Collection: PATON, DAVID, PAPERS P.C 158.1 Raleigh,

1832 (1833-1840) 1902

Physical Description: Letters, pamphlet, invitation, lithographs, pictures, specifications. 1 box.

Acquisition: Lithograph of the capitol frDm }Irs. Raym::>nd Pollock, New Bern, North Carolina 1942, May 18 Photostats purchased from Carolina Blue Printers, Raleigh, North Carolina. 1942, Mayl9

Description: David Paton, Scotsman, was the son of a famous architect and builder, .John Paton. ·He studied under his father and Sir John Soane, professor of architecture at· the Royal Academy, London. recommended Paton as superintmdant for the. building· of the state capitol at Raleigh and he came· in 1834, serving as. builder, architect, and designer. He returned to in 1840 but carne back to · ·America in 1849 and for thirty years served as professor at the American Institute of Architecture at Brooklyn and of the Mechanical Institute, New York. He died March 25, 1882.

Letters reveal negotiations for masons, bricklayers, coppersmithS, .and stone cutters. Ithiel Town wrote Paton describing his own .work in Indianapolis, impressing on him his opportunity to establish himself, and advising him how to work with his men, to examine.bills, and to satisfy the commissioners and the public •.. Later, oriting from Ne1-1 York, he upbraids Paton severely for making changes· iri his plans for the capitol and comments on the new commissioners • .There are several letters from William Bell, East Chester, New York, . replying to Paton's inquiries relative to wages am working hours there· and giving news of friends in Scotland and in the North. Letters from Paton's father and brother in (i840) relate opportunities there and urge him to ·return home. Paton, in 1840, wrote Commissioners Birdsall and Eeclmith in regard to drawings he has made for the Supreme Court and Library Building and adds his regret that he will not be able to superintend this. · PATON, DAVID, PAPERS P.C. 158.1 Raleigh, North Carolina

1832 (1833~1840) 1902

[ >MoSS] A letter from Mrs. C. B. Foy, Ne~r Bern, !'arch 22, 1940, to Mr. H. G. Robertson, Raleigh, states David Paton was her grand­ father, identifies other members of the family, and briefly summarizes Paton's career after leaving North Carolina.

Printed material includes Paton's request for further remuneration from the State; photostatic copies of his· letters of recommendation. when he applied for the position of Superintendent of City Worl:s, Edinburgh (1847); and an address by Samuel A. Ashe (1902) on the presentation of Paton's portrait. Photostatic copies of family letters are included in the papers. Photostatic copies of drawings of the capitol are on file in the map collection.