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Some Aspects Profession of the Development of the Architectural in Boston Between 1800 and 1830 L

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Some Aspects Profession of the Development of the Architectural in Boston Between 1800 and 1830 L Some Aspects of the Development of the Architectural Profession in Boston Between 1800 and 1830 l JACK QUINAN* T he distinction between house- The earliest architectural school in Bos- wrights and gentlemen amateurs in ton has been attributed by several scholars 1 American architecture of the to Asher Benjamin at a date close to 1805.2 eighteenth century standsin sharpcontrast Unfortunately, the school has never been to the architectural profession as it de- adequately documented. Benjamin had veloped during the nineteenth century. In a submitted the following proposal for an little more than fii years “polite” ar- architectural school to the Windsor [Ver- chitecture ceased to be the occasional mont] Gazette of 5 January 1802. which preoccupationof a few educatedgentlemen seemsto have led Talbot Hamlin and Roger and emerged as a true profession, that is, Hale Newton to conclude that Benjamin one in which its practitioners could support subsequently established a school in Bos- themselves by designing buildings. The ton: change was momentous, and we may well ask how it came about. The topic is broad, To Young Carpenters. Joiners and All of course, and this paper shag be confmed Others concerned in the Art of building: to events in Boston with the hope that -The subscriberintends to opena School of Architectureat hishouse in Windsor, the similar studiesof other American cities will 20th of February next-at which will be soon follow. taughtThe Five Ordersof Architecture,the In a period of intense activity between Proportionsof Doors, Windows and Chim- 1800 and 1830 a number of architectural neypieces,the Constructionof Stairs, with schools, professional organizations, ar- their ramp and twist Rails, the method of farmitg timbers, lengthand backing of Hip chitectural libraries, and other related rafters,the tracingof groinsto AngleBrac- phenomena, materialized and provided the kets, circular soffitsin circularwalls; Plans, groundwork for the new profession in Bos- Elevationsand Sectionsof Houses,with all ton. Architectural schoolsoccupied a place their ornaments. The Art of drawing Plans and Elevations, activi- of special significance among these or any otherfgute perspectivelywill also be ties, as they made it possiblefor young men taught if required by to keep abreast of both the stylistic changes ASHER BENJAMIN and the techno!ogical developments that December 28, RUtI3 were occurring so rapidly during the early nineteenth century. In time, schools Since Benjamin moved to Boston shortly tended to supercedethe venerable appren- after submitting the proposal, it is unlikely ticeship system and gradually elevated ar- chitectural instruction to a theoretical level in someinstances. The establishmentof the * Jack Quinan is an Assistant Professorof Art first American architectural degree pro- History at the State University of New York at Buffalo. His doctotal dissertationwas on Asher gram at the Massachusetts Institute of Benjamin(Brown University, 1973).Mr. Quinan Technology in 1865represents the cuhnina- hascontributed previously to OLDTJME NEW tion of this scholastic activity. ENGLAND. 32 Some Aspects of the Development 33 that the school ever materialized in Just as the Associated Housewright So- Windsor, but the possibility that he sub- ciety provided a locus for the growing pro- sequently established a school in Boston fessionalism, a large part of the intellectual should remain open.4 At any rate, a form of and visual stimulation continued to come architectural instruction was available in through architectural pattern books. Dur- Boston in 1802 at a school advertised as ing the eighteenth century it had been cus- follows: tomary for housewrightsto employ one or OsgoodCarleton ’sschool is opendays and two English pattern books for the decora- evenings,in the upperchamber of Mr. Hag- tive detailing of chimneypieces, frontis- gar’s brick building, near the draw bridge, pieces, and other interior surfaces, while for teaching Navigation . Surveying, Gauging, Measuring, Architecture, book- their general knowledge of carpentry was keeping, etc.5 acquired during apprenticeship. By the early nineteenth century, however, the art With all due respect to Mr. Carleton, who of building had become increasingly com- would apparently teach anything in order plex and specialized, and its literature was to attract some pupils, this was an inaus- proliferating beyond the means of an ordi- picious beginning - nothing, certainly, to nary housewright. In 1810Ithiel Town, and threaten the integrity of the apprenticeship Solomon Willard (architects), Nathaniel system. Indeed, nearly two full decades passed before other, more developed ar- Critchet, and Samuel Waldron (house- chitectural schoolsbegan to appear in Bos- wrights), and John Gill (a stucco worker) ton. There were stirrings from other quar- founded the Boston Architectural Library ters in this fust decade, however, that also as a means of making more books available contributed to the emergence of the ar- to the local housewrights. The catalogue chitectural profession. of this library, published in 1809, includes In 1804 a group of Boston housewrights some fifty-five items, most of which are gathered at the Green Dragon Tavern to eighteenth century English pattern books.9 found the Associated Housewright Society Works such as Charles Middleton’s Plans, of Boston. At the outset they sought to Elevations, and Sections of the House of regulate certain aspectsof their trade, such Correction for the County of Middlesex as wagesand costsofjobs, and to provide a (London, 1788); Rev. James Dallaway’s measure of security, through the collection Observationson EnglishArchitecture, Mil- of annual dues, for the families and appren- itary, Ecclesiastical and Civil (London, tices of members who might be incapaci- 1806);Joshua Kirby ’s The Description and tated. Despite these very practical inten- Use of a New Instrument Called an Ar- tions, the Associated Housewright Society chitectonic Sector by Which Any Part of became the nucleus of the emerging ar- Architecture May Be Drawn with Facility chitectural professionin the courseof a few and Exactness (London, 1761), as well as decades. Most Boston housewrights also two works by Sir John Soane and several belonged to the MassachusettsCharitable histories of English towns and counties, Mechanics Association, an organization reflect the growing range of material avail- founded in 1795 for the benefit of all able to Boston housewrights at this time. mechanics and manufacturers, but the fi- Two of the earliest architectural pattern nancial burden of two such memberships books published in America, Owen Bid- was too great for many housewrights, and dle’s The Young Carpenter’s Assistant this contributed to the dissolution of the (Philadelphia, 1805), and Asher Benjamins’ Society in the 1830s.’ American Builder’s Companion (Boston, 34 Old-Time New England 1: 1806), were included in the catalogueof the ried activities began to coalesce under the Boston Architectural Library. These had catalytic influence of a few strong per- come into being out of a growing dissatis- sonalities. Charles Bulfmch, Boston’s faction among American builders with En- gentleman amateurpar excellence, left the glish books for American usage.rOThe de- city in 1817 to become architect of the sire to changethe situation is characteristic United States Capitol in Washington. of this period and, in fact, reflects a major Leadership of the architectural interests in change in the attitude toward the architec- Boston then fell to Alexander Parris, a tural profession in this decade. This ex- young man who had been trained as a tended even to the way in which would-be housewright and had served as an engineer architects identified themselves. in the War of 1812. “Captain” Parris, as he The title “Architect” does not appear in was usually called, ran a thriving office on the Boston Directories before 1806. Court Street which was the focus of most of Charles Bulfmch, the designer of most of the major architectural activity in Boston the major buildings in Boston up to that during the 1820s and early 1830s.13This time, was identified as “Superintendent of was the first professional architectural of- Police.“*1 Asher Benjamin, the one other fice in the city, and a generation of Boston person in Boston who might be.identified as architects were trained there. The follow- an architect at that time, Eontinued to list ing advertisements from the Columbiun himself as “housewright” in those same Centinel of 1818 attest to the stature that Directories until the arrival of Peter Panis had gained only three years after he Banner, about 1805. The English-born and settled in the city. They also provide con- English-trained Banner proceeded to ad- siderable insight into the nature of architec- vertise himself as “Architect and Builder” tural schools and practice at that time. in the Columbiun Centinel of April 9, 1806, ARCHITECTURE and in the Boston Directory of 1809. Asher JOHN MILLIGAN, Architect and Civil Benjamin then identified himself as “Ar- Engineer, intendsto open a School for Ar- chitect and Carpenter” in the 1806 edition chitectural Drawing, next room to Captain of The American Builder’s Companion and Paniss’ Oftice, over 93 Court Streetas soon as sufficient number offer, (which will be changed his title from “Housewright” in limited to IS). Hours from 7 to 9 oclock.’ the Boston Directory of 1809 to “Ar- every evening except Sundays. Terms one chitect” in the 1810Directory in apparent dollar per
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