By Nathalie Belkin, Lead Processor; Gabriella Carl-Johnson, Kay Menick, Sara Fetherolf, Erin Allsop, Jessica Mack, and Katie Alleman, Interns
Title: Architectural Drawings and Blueprints, c. 1880s-1990s
Predominant Dates:1910-1930s
Extent: 0.0
Subjects: A. Faranda and Son, Acea family, Agoglia family, Altar to Liberty: Minerva, Architectural Drawings, Architecture, Arnold, K.F., Arnold, N.B., Arnold family, Art nouveau (Architecture), Bahrenburg, John H., Bahrenburg family, Barclay family, Barrow, ME James T., Barrow family, Barthman family, Beaux-Arts architecture, Benisch Bros. Monumental Works, Blueprints, Bourne family, Bromell family, Brown, John W., Brown family, Buildings--Design and construction, C.E. Tayntor & Co., Cemeteries--New York (State)--New York--History, Cinerary urns, Colyer family, Cushman, Eugene, Cutting, James D.W., Cutting family, Daly, Margaret, Daly family, Davis Granite Co, Architects and Contractors, de Aldama family, DeLaCour and Ferrara, Delafield, Major Rich D., Delafield family, Dewey family, Doerschuck family, Dunne family, Egyptian revival (Architecture), Euler family, Farrington, Gould and Hoagland, Feitner, John, Felzmann family, Flagg, Ernest, Gilbert family, Goodnough family, Gothic revival (Architecture), Gould, J. R, Gould, James S., Gould family, Green-Wood Cemetery--New York, N.Y., Greve family, Griswold family, Hapgood family, Harder family, Harrison Granite Co., Havemeyer family, Heins and La Farge Architects, Higgins, Charles, Higgins family, Hillside architecture, Hoffman & Prochazka, Designers, Sculptors, and Builders, Horn, Alfred E., Horn family, Howland family, John Thatcher & Son, Kampfe family, Kenneth, W.D., Lawrence family, Lingard family, Ludlum, Emma R., Ludlum family, Martin, Robert, Martin family, Mausoleums, McAlpin family, Murdock family, Obelisks, Parish family, Parsons family, Penn Brass and Bronze Works, Pitbladdo Monumental Works, Polak family, Presbrey-Coykendall Company, Presbrey-Leland Monument Company, Renwick, Aspinwall, and Tucker, Reynolds family, Riley family, Ritzheimer family, Robinson, F. Delancey, Romanesque architecture, Rosanelli family, Ruckstull, F. W. (Fred Wellington), 1853-1942, Sands family, Sarcophagi, Sculpture and architecture, Sepulchral chapels, Sepulchral monuments, Victorian, Sepulchral monuments--New York (State)--New York, Sepulchral monuments--United States, Sepulchral monuments industry, Smallman, Thomas F., Smallman family, Somers family, Stephens, Annie W., Stephens, Benjamin F., Stephens family, Stevenson family, Stone, Gould, & Co, Designers and Builders, Sullivan, John W., Sullivan family, Texter family, Tiefel family, Tombs & sepulchral monuments, Torrio, Johnny, Torrio Family, Umberto Innocenti and Richard K. Webel, Landscape Architects, Underground architecture, Upjohn, Hobart, VanRensselaer family, Vaults (Sepulchral), W.F. Benedict & Son, W.W. Leland Co. Inc., Walsh, James F., Warren & Wetmore, Wesselman family, Wood family, Woolley family
Languages: English
The Architectural Drawings and Blueprints collection contains over 150 separate series of designs, each of which has one to around 20 individual drawings. Each series represents designs for a mausoleum or other architectural feature at Green-Wood Cemetery.
Most of the designs are for private family mausoleums, although the collection also includes blueprint materials for the historic Green-Wood chapel designed by Warren & Wetmore, alterations made to the Fifth Avenue gate, and plans for the mid-twentieth-century Columbarium. Other notable features in the collection include the Higgins mausoleum series, which contains photographs and early designs of the famous Battle Hill monument Altar to Liberty: Minerva by sculptor F. Wellington Ruxell. Many additional series may include more famous names in New York City history, such as those for the Cooper-Hewitt family and the Torrio family.
The majority of these drawings are printed on large blueprint paper, although there are a significant number of series that contain original drawings on tracing paper or drafting linen, as well as prints on Mylar, photocopy paper, or other reproduction materials. Many series also contain specifications documents—legal agreements between the architectural firm and the cemetery, which outline the plans, materials, and workman regulations for construction. In some cases, there is additional material, such as correspondence with lot owners and alternate mausoleum designs.
The collection’s dates range from the 1880s to the 1990s; the majority of the mausoleum designs were created between 1910 and 1930, at a time when it was widely popular among upper-class families to have a mausoleum or vault in which to inter their deceased relatives. Many architects of the time specialized in mausoleum design. Architectural firms that produced a large number of mausoleum designs in this collection include the Presbrey-Leland Monument Company, John Feitner Architects, and the Harrison Granite Company.
Researchers may wish to consult a specific series, which can give an interesting insight into the family in question, or they may wish to look at multiple series in the collection, in order to gain an example of the way construction and design aesthetics changed over time. The collection is a particularly valuable example of the way cemetery architecture developed in its golden years, particularly because many of the wealthiest and most prestigious New York families chose to be interred at Green-Wood.
The collection is currently stored in two locations—some material is in the Green-Wood archives, while many other blueprints are kept in the surveyor’s office of the administrative building. The container list has additional information on each item in this significant and highly variable collection, including notes on the date of designs, the architectural firm that created the drawings, and information on the size, condition, markings, and design features of each piece. All blueprint materials have been scanned and are digitally available; a preview of the image file is attached to each item. High-resolution images of each scan are available upon request.
The material is in varying condition, and embrittled drawings have been encapsulated in Mylar to ensure preservation.
The Green-Wood archives hold additional records acquired from the Presbrey-Leland Monument Company relating to Green-Wood Cemetery, and researchers may find it useful to consult this collection in conjunction with the Architectural Drawings and Blueprints.
A. Faranda and Son
Acea family
Agoglia family
Altar to Liberty: Minerva
Architectural Drawings
Architecture
Arnold, K.F.
Arnold, N.B.
Arnold family
Art nouveau (Architecture)
Bahrenburg, John H.
Bahrenburg family
Barclay family
Barrow, ME James T.
Barrow family
Barthman family
Beaux-Arts architecture
Benisch Bros. Monumental Works
Blueprints
Bourne family
Bromell family
Brown, John W.
Brown family
Buildings--Design and construction
C.E. Tayntor & Co.
Cemeteries--New York (State)--New York--History
Cinerary urns
Colyer family
Cushman, Eugene
Cutting, James D.W.
Cutting family
Daly, Margaret
Daly family
Davis Granite Co, Architects and Contractors
de Aldama family
DeLaCour and Ferrara
Delafield, Major Rich D.
Delafield family
Dewey family
Doerschuck family
Dunne family
Egyptian revival (Architecture)
Euler family
Farrington, Gould and Hoagland
Feitner, John
Felzmann family
Flagg, Ernest
Gilbert family
Goodnough family
Gothic revival (Architecture)
Gould, J. R
Gould, James S.
Gould family
Green-Wood Cemetery--New York, N.Y.
Greve family
Griswold family
Hapgood family
Harder family
Harrison Granite Co.
Havemeyer family
Heins and La Farge Architects
Higgins, Charles
Higgins family
Hillside architecture
Hoffman & Prochazka, Designers, Sculptors, and Builders
Horn, Alfred E.
Horn family
Howland family
John Thatcher & Son
Kampfe family
Kenneth, W.D.
Lawrence family
Lingard family
Ludlum, Emma R.
Ludlum family
Martin, Robert
Martin family
Mausoleums
McAlpin family
Murdock family
Obelisks
Parish family
Parsons family
Penn Brass and Bronze Works
Pitbladdo Monumental Works
Polak family
Presbrey-Coykendall Company
Presbrey-Leland Monument Company
Renwick, Aspinwall, and Tucker
Reynolds family
Riley family
Ritzheimer family
Robinson, F. Delancey
Romanesque architecture
Rosanelli family
Ruckstull, F. W. (Fred Wellington), 1853-1942
Sands family
Sarcophagi
Sculpture and architecture
Sepulchral chapels
Sepulchral monuments, Victorian
Sepulchral monuments--New York (State)--New York
Sepulchral monuments--United States
Sepulchral monuments industry
Smallman, Thomas F.
Smallman family
Somers family
Stephens, Annie W.
Stephens, Benjamin F.
Stephens family
Stevenson family
Stone, Gould, & Co, Designers and Builders
Sullivan, John W.
Sullivan family
Texter family
Tiefel family
Tombs & sepulchral monuments
Torrio, Johnny
Torrio Family
Umberto Innocenti and Richard K. Webel, Landscape Architects
Underground architecture
Upjohn, Hobart
VanRensselaer family
Vaults (Sepulchral)
W.F. Benedict & Son
W.W. Leland Co. Inc.
Walsh, James F.
Warren & Wetmore
Wesselman family
Wood family
Woolley family
Date: November 8, 1924
Lot Number: 36456
Scale: ¾” = 1 Foot
Details: In stapled packet of 7 drawings, bound at upper edge with fasteners
Drawing Size: 15” x 17”
Condition: Edges discolored / darkened. Embrittling throughout. Small tears along edge.
Markings / Misc. Text: Stamped in blue ink, signed in black ink – “[Approved] 11/8 [19]24 [by] H.C.Nail [Superintendent].”
Materials Noted: Bronze.
Drawing Materials: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Design Notes: Composed mainly of massive masonry. On large lintel stone with arched upper edge spurs above doorway and above panels to either side of doors. Family name is inscribed in large lintel stone. Two massive stone blocks span from grade level to top of lintel. Above lintel, is one shaped stone with pointed peak, spanning nearly full width of building. Roof course sits above this stone, composed of one peaked, angled stone at ridgeline and two longer slabs, one at either side, extending to edge of roof. Bronze double doors at front; two-panel design with round pulls. On either side of door are carved or cast panels with wreath and ribbon details.
Date: November 8, 1924
Lot Number: 36456
Scale: ¾” = 1 Foot
Details: In stapled packet of 7 drawings, bound at upper edge with fasteners
Drawing Size: 15” x 17”
Condition: Edges discolored / darkened, particularly lower edge. Embrittling throughout. Small tears at center of lower edge.
Markings / Misc. Text: Stamped in blue ink, signed in black ink – “[Approved] 11/8 [19]24 [by] H.C.Nail [Superintendent].”
Materials Noted: None specified.
Drawing Materials: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Design Notes: Very simple, geometric design without significant historic referent. Relatively shallow pitched roof. Lower portion of building is composed of two vertical slabs at side, two horizontal slabs at center. One roughly pentagonal slab above, with single course of stone comprising roof at uppermost level. At center, set within second course of stone from bottom, is one window, composed of two vertical panels of grill-work, each panel composed of 4 squares of radiating lines.
Date: November 8, 1924
Lot Number: 36456
Scale: ¾” = 1 Foot
Details: In stapled packet of 7 drawings, bound at upper edge with fasteners
Drawing Size: 15” x 17”
Condition: Embrittling throughout, Small tear at upper right-hand corner.
Markings / Misc. Text: Stamped in blue ink, signed in black ink – “[Approved] 11/8 [19]24 [by] H.C.Nail [Superintendent].” Several dimensions corrected at foundation level, on right side in pencil.
Materials Noted: None specified.
Drawing Materials: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Design Notes: Side elevation composed primarily of two massive horizontal stone slabs, roughly 10’ long by 3’ high. Grade ascends roughly 2’ from front edge to back edge of building.
Date: November 8, 1924
Lot Number: 36456
Scale: ¾” = 1 Foot
Details: In stapled packet of 7 drawings, bound at upper edge with fasteners
Drawing Size: 15” x 17”
Condition: Discoloration and embrittling along all edges. Small tears along lower edge.
Markings / Misc. Text: Stamped in blue ink, signed in black ink – “[Approved] 11/8 [19]24 [by] H.C.Nail [Superintendent].” Dimensions corrected at foundation level in pencil.
Materials Noted: Concrete, slate, marble, and granite.
Drawing Materials: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Design Notes: Three vaults stacked floor to ceiling. Small marble ledge below window; marble ceiling panels.
Date: November 8, 1924
Lot Number: 36456
Scale: ¾” = 1 Foot
Details: In stapled packet of 7 drawings, bound at upper edge with fasteners
Drawing Size: 15” x 17”
Condition: Embrittling throughout. Irregular marks on reverse, i.e. due to developing process [in a “wavy” pattern].
Markings / Misc. Text: Stamped in blue ink, signed in black ink – “[Approved] 11/8 [19]24 [by] H.C.Nail [Superintendent].” With pencil sketch on reverse, perhaps of hanger or attachment point.
Materials Noted: Concrete, slate, marble and granite.
Drawing Materials: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Design Notes: Three catacombs high on either side. Art glass window at rear of building is placed high on wall – from 4’ to 7’6”, while entrance door is 6’7” tall – thus a compressive/expansive effect and a highlighting of the art glass window.
Date: November 8, 1924
Lot Number: 36456
Scale: ¾” = 1 Foot
Details: In stapled packet of 7 drawings, bound at upper edge with fasteners
Drawing Size: 15” x 17”
Condition: Discoloration / darkening particularly along right edge. Embrittiling throughout; small tears along edge.
Markings / Misc. Text: Stamped in blue ink, signed in black ink – “[Approved] 11/8 [19]24 [by] H.C.Nail [Superintendent].” On reverse in pencil, is noted “Texter 36456”
Materials Noted: Concrete, slate, marble and granite.
Drawing Materials: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Design Notes: Symmetric double-doors swing inward to either side. Interior space is roughly the same width as that of doorway. Art glass window at rear is slightly narrower.
Date: November 8, 1924
Lot Number: 36456
Scale: ¾” = 1 Foot
Details: In stapled packet of 7 drawings, bound at upper edge with fasteners
Drawing Size: 15” x 17”
Condition: 3 slight horizontal fold lines across body of drawing; on one vertical fold line up center ofdrawing. Embrittling around all edges,darkening/discoloration at upper ¼ of drawing.
Markings / Misc. Text: Stamped in blue ink, signed in black ink – “[Approved] 11/8 [19]24 [by] H.C.Nail [Superintendent].” On reverse in blue pencil is written “Texter Vault Foundation Plan”
Materials Noted: Concrete, slate, marble and granite.
Drawing Materials: Blueprint reproduction on paper.
Design Notes: Laterally symmetric design. Projecting steps at front.
