C HARLE S FO LLlE N M c K I M

. M E M O R I A L M E E T I N G

AMERI CAN I NSTITUTE O F ARC HITECTS

r r d r k Pe fection in whateve he un e too . — W1L L 1AM RUTHE RF ORD M E AD .

THE C O RCO R A N G A LLE R Y O F A RT

W S G A HI N T O N . D . C .

D EC E M BE R I S. 19 0 9 THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS

THE OCTAGON

D . C .

GLENN BROWN Edito r .

D. C . GIBSON BROS PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS l 9 l 0

LIST OF ADDRESSES.

I I M H W F W LL A O ARD TA T, ‘ ’

President ofthe Umted S tates . U OO ELIH R T,

t tates S enator ofthe Uni ed S . O PH HODG C J SE ES HOATE, - Ambas s ador to Gr at B ritain 1 8 1 0 . e , 99 9 5 C G B ASS IL ERT,

' s Am rican I mtztute o Architects Pr id nt . e e , e f WI I M RU H F O D LL A T ER R MEAD ,

A A d m in Rom Pr s id nt m rican ca e . e e , e e y

UT S OF RESPEC TRIB E T.

M Y ART THE N ATI ON AL ACADE OF . H M N M Y OF A S AN D T E A ERICA ACADE RT LETTERS . TH N TION I N I U OF A AN D E A AL ST T TE RTS LETTERS . OI N T C I ON OF F OUR N N W Y ORK ART I TI J A T TEE E SOC E ES . TH TION M Y OF D IG E N A AL ACADE ES N . H CU P U Y T E N ATION AL S L T RE SOCIET . TH ' N Y OF U P E N ATIO AL SOCIET M RAL AIN TERS . TH A CHI C U A AGU OF N W Y K E R TE T R L LE E E OR . H Y ARVARD UN IVERSIT . B Y COLUM IA UN IVERSIT . D M Y I R THE AM ERI CAN ACA E N OM E .

E'HB O I HE CTAGO I ITI N N T O N .

TH K I WO OF MCK I M M AD 8: WH TE . E R , E D D Y V I NG I O WE N ES A E EN SESS N .

H A RI A I TI T T F AR HI T T E ME C N NS U E O C ECTS .

’ D C M B 1 1 0 AT I O O K P M E E ER 5 , 9 9 , CLOC . .

R H R F R HAR F K I M AD D O M . C O M ESSES ON O LES LLEN C .

PRESI DEN T CASS GI LBERT : I have t h e honor t o int roduce t he Pre si

of h t d t at d ent t e Uni e S es . TH PR D NT OF TH UN T D T T E ESI E E I E S A ES, H N B W AM H D TAFT O ORA LE ILLI OWAR .

ADIES AND GENTLEM EN : We are here to do honor to the memory of an

u fie American I eader in one of the great arts . I do not feel j sti d in saying

' Mr M cK im much with respect to . , for the reason that period of my _ the

acquaintance with him and friendship for him was very short . My acquaintance

him f War with arose rom the fact that I was Secretary of , and had to do with that

oflicial plan in an way which he held most dear , I think , of all the subjects to — which he devoted his great artistic genius the plan for carrying onward the H . e t design with respect to Washington was sensi ive , as I presume most

snfi ered geniuses and men of talent are, and he much as he ran against that abruptness and cocksureness that we are apt to find in the neighborhood of i Wash ngton both in the Executive and the Legislative branches . Hew as the last

eocks ureness person to give you the impression that he had either abruptness or , d ’ but I on t know any one who , when he had set his mind at a thing and had deter

e u d s s mined to r ach a res lt , had more stea fastne s and manife ted more willingness

s M r M cK im to use every possible mean to achieve his purpose than . .

’ a I don t know whether I d re tell a story with reference to him , which , as a

am member of the Cabinet , I able to certify is true ; but it illustrates his qualities to such a degree that perhaps I may be pardoned for going into the co nfid ences of a

Cabinet of an administration .

’ Mal Mr McK im s i The l was . chief anxiety lest Congress should forget that mpor

cel l ar and f n tant pa rt of the plan of the improvement of Washington . The the ou D m dation for the Agricultural epart ent Building had been begun , and some ’ Mr McK im s or expended when it came to . knowledge that the building, if

fe erected according to that plan, would be a few feet too high and a w feet too near

c it a the center , and he ame to prevent . The Secret ry of Agriculture was not dis f posed to regard that variation rom the plan as substantial , and was very much opposed to the change . M m r. McKi . Mr. came to me, after Root left the Cabinet , as his only true sym

h z er P pat i and friend, and asked me to speak to the resident , whom he also regarded n co v incm . o as a friend and sympathizer, but one who at times needed g S I went to see the President and explained to him the situation , and he at once agreed that “ ” “ it h e we ought to change . But , said , the trouble is with Uncle Jimmy, who

He n . a has a real cause of complaint says that these architects have del yed too lo g , and the public money cannot be wasted and expended in this way .

“ “ ’ W l ' sort and e l , said , can t we call a council , or something of that , solemnly ” final l ? sit on the subject , and then y reach the right conclusion ‘ “ ” We r cK im . M He . said , can , and we will , and we did M was of counsel and M M K s. r c im P s . Mr. Green and two or three other The re ident took to task at once

0 60 co m at the audacity of architects who wait 3 and days , until plans have been W l et ed . p , and then come in and attempt to make a change ell , that was not a very

am M K im u d c . good beginning , and I afrai that our brother thought the jig was p But it so suited the Secretary of Agriculture that when there appeared a suggestion f w sacrificed rom an engineer that possibly not or ould be , but an economy might be introduced in another way, the Secretary , at the suggestion or the P invitation of the resident , said that he thought possibly it might be worked out P e did id that way, but the r sident insisted that if we , we d not intend to waive the criticism that wehad to make against the profession of architec ts by reason of their

A nd . delay . so we separated

v McK im The agricultural building was mo ed . and I walked up the steps of “ Mr M m ' D t . . cK i the War epar ment I said , , I congratulate you on your victory .

“ ' He k ? turned and loo ed at me a moment , and said , Was it a victory Another ” am an such and I dead . But it was a victory , d it illustrates his character in quietly

’ pushing and pushing and pushing for the highest ideals of his art fand insisting on

was s everything that be t , and in yielding in nothing that seemed to him a detriment and a retrograde step .

c ul No one o d come in contact with him and not feel that generous, disinterested

Spirit of his in favor of the promotion of all art, and his willingness to devote time ff and e ort to promote it everywhere . I had the honor to appoint him as a member of the Board to assist the Secretary 6 e c of War in pres rving what we ould of the scenery of Niagara , and he devoted a

c great deal of time, with very little compensation , to planning out what ould be done on the American side of the river so that the people on the other side should not think it was the back yard of the United States . And so it was with respect to everything that came out of his character to one who had to deal with him in public matters .

I did not come here to make a speech . I hoped that I should not be thrown

M r Mr on to the audience without some leader like . Root or . Choate, who have

M r McK im n known . for lo g, and who have shown by their works and their speeches

I had l how artistic they are ; that , who have no experience in art , unti I came here to be made responsible for a great department , should begin this encomium ; but M I feel in my heart so strongly the debt of gratitude that the nation owes to r .

M cK im for leading an art and making the ideals of that art even higher , and trying

n am a to make them ational , that I gl d to lend any emphasis that I may to a memorial m to hi .

am - Mr McK im I living in a house to day that has been made beautiful by . .

It is a house to which you can invite any foreigner from any country , however r l a tistic , and fee that it is a worthy Executive Mansion for a great nation like this ,

reflect in it s combining dignity and simplicity , and g in all its lines ( doe to me'the

M r cK im dignity and simplicity of the art of . M . PR I D T C I B RT : n Mr e de n on Be f N G . ES E ASS L E I tha k you , Pr si t , hal o f t he n e I stitut .

Mr e den d e and Gen eme n e t h e n n d e . Pr si t, La i s tl , I hav ho or to i tro uc

en S ator Elihu Root .

H N B HU O ORA LE ELI ROOT .

M H M MR P T A G T M R C AI A . : . R N, RESIDEN , L DIES AND EN LE EN There was a great

o a i a i Y d meeting t w weeks go n the new the tre n New ork, calle by the united action ff of a great number of societies devoted to di erent branches of art, for the purpose of voicing their universal sentiment of honor to the memory and mourning for the M m At loss of Charles cKi . that meeting I said what I had to say in tribute to his

s memory, but I cannot re ist the feeling that it is appropriate that it should be supple ment ed by this meeting here, held under the auspices of the American Institute of n Architects, representing his own professio and the brethren among whom he had w o rked wit h l o al friend shi such y p and cooperation for many years, and held here in

a has the city of Washington, where, notwithstanding all things th t he done else

and n where, it seems to me , the brightest and loftiest development expressio of his character and his genius occurred . Charles M cK im was a conspicuous member of the little group of men who in th e ri a planning a d building of the White City by the Lake at Chic go , sixteen years ago , n i turned the curre t of Amer can feeling and opinion upon all matters of art . No greater epoch in the life of art ever was than tha t which is marked by the influence and the new impulse in the minds of the millions of men and women of this great and

a d » rich n powerful and progressive country , who received a new impression of beauty h and dignity in art by their visit to t at wonderful exhibition . It has seemed to me that there was as great an influence upon the minds and characters of the men did who the work as there was upon the people who saw it and learned its lesson .

an -e I ' There has been with all of them , and notably d pre minently , should say ,

McK im a e with , from th t day forth a br adth of public spirit and devotion of their

e McK im art to the public s rvice such as we never had before . Charles was peculiarly

fit t ed a by the h bit of his mind, by his character and by the tendencies of his art

c a He to orrect some of the chief thoughts of the Americ n temperament . despised

a u and shrank from the merely ingenious and fant stical , thro gh which amateurs

s Th e in the beginning of a de ire for ornament are apt to express themselv es .

n a te dency was to hold f st to all that was good in the past , to anchor in the great d achievements past , and to aim to a apt the established principles of art to the new — conditions to which his problems related ; and so when h e came when he was called to apply his art to th e solving of the problems that lay before as in Wash 9 i t o no t ng n, it was natural for him to attempt some great and brilliant achievement ,

/ c but to study the history of our country, and to study the history of the arts that ould

h Com be brought to illustrate and express the history of our country ere . The mission for the Development of the Park System of Washington did not attempt h to evolve something from their inner consciousness, or to present some plan whic should be marked by their names and lead all the world to praise their ingenuity or

’ . fant their inventive genius They went back to the plans of L En and Washington ,

. and With thorn in mind they went all over the world and studied all the great speci mens of the past through which similar problems had been worked out , and they brought here upon their return the wealth of all the ages and a keen appreciation

’ ’ of our own history and produced a plan and development of L Enfant s plan for

' beautificat io n it s the of Washington, for the development of park system , which

f - or u I believe is as certain to be ollowed as the sun is to rise to morrow . Unf t nately , the immediate acceptance of the plan is hindered by a wretched little controversy

d r about the authority under which it was create ; but that is a temporary matte . We cannot go on forever rejecting the bes t work of our best men al ong the lines — that our nation is following in all of our great and progress ive cities we cannot go on forever rejecting that because of a little quarrel over the authority out of t which i arose .

Mr McK im D l . was consulted by the War epartment when it came to the bui ding of the War College and the Engineer’s School in the Ol d Washington Barracks ( He Reservation . made the plans and he put up the buildings . There was a charm i h ng illustration of his character in the course of t at work. The construction was

offi cer r put in charge of a very able of the Engineer Co ps, who brought to it the rules and the traditions of a strict utilitarianism . For months it seemed as if there was a n irrepressible co nflict between the engineer and the artist ; it seemed as if nothing

D c it but the brute power of the War epartment ould settle . But as time went on the old story of the sun and the north wind with the travel er repeated itself .

McK im The gentle insistence and unswerving constancy of carried the day , and it was but a short time before the engineer offi cer was the most ardent admirer and

a d a a and loyal follower of the artist , n all controversy dis ppe red, the War Collega — to day seems to me to be a very wonderful and charming example of architecture, perfectly adapted to its purpose and expressive of the character of the institution .

f n ns us When he came to repair or restore theWhite House, he ou d therewerepla , pla

k a which loo ed to the building of gre t pavilions at either end of the old White House .

w d w h w d redowned It ould have been splen id , ould ave been much admired, oul have to the glory of any architect ; but it would have dwarfed and pushed back into ins ig IO nificance McKim w the plain, simple, old White House, and ith his reverent spirit , his - m self restraint , sought in the history of the White House and the history of the ti e from which it came the spirit in which he was to work . Time and time again he has

M o nt icel ro come to me and talked about what he had found at , what he had found here and there all over the country in the way of remaining buildings that express H the Spirit of the time of Washington and of Jefferson . e sought for the tounda hi tions of the old east wing w ch was destroyed, I suppose, and never rebuilt after — — the fire of 1 8 1 4 at all events it had long disappeared and he put back the White

t h e House as nearly as possible as it was originally, except hat took out all the

poor material and put in the best material ; he _ took out all of the gingerbread

’ confectioner s work that had been put in in the course of years and replaced it by

e di nified us simpl and g work, and he left the White House a perfect expression ,

da f an enduring expression of the y of Washington and of Je ferson, a perfect example

’ of an American gentleman s home on the banks of the Potomac . l I told him once of something that some one had said about the o ffice building

’ P office . the resident s building There was general criticism , and the members of

ur he o Congress generally failed to see where t money had gone , because the great pavilion had not been kept ; but the thing that I told him was that some one had

’ “ ” “ a P o ffi ce d k . s id that the resident s buil ing loo ed like a stable Ah , he said , that k is the best thing that has been said about it yet . I wanted it to loo like a simple

' dependency of the main building , and this criticism shows that I have accomplished

what I sought . It was not alone in the matters where he was directly intrusted with the prosecution of work as an architect or as a member of the Commission that

wa of cal l i he was of service . We got in the y ng upon him for advice upon all sorts

e i of qu stions relating to memorials , to statues and to bu ldings in the city of Washington ,

certain that his correct taste, his carefully studied views , would prevent any error being

He h m made . was called upon to pass upon t e designs for the Grant Me orial , which

‘ l ocat io n and is now under construction, and he was called upon to pass upon the , a battle royal occurred over the design and a still more serious conflict over the loca

tion ; but he was tenacious and unyielding in his contention for what he was sure

was right and best , and he prevailed . When we came to build the new building for

a the Internation l Union of American Republics, which is now nearing completion , P P fronting on the White Lot on the east and on the otomac ark to the south , there was a gran t competition of more than a hundred architects who sent in competitive

Mr M M m M . r. cKi r. designs and they elected , with Lord and Hornbostel , to make

the selection from the designs . They all agreed upon the design , which is now being

ha M cK im : followed , and when t t had been done the characteristic occurred , for said

1 1 N ow , I would like very much , as this design has been determined upon, to make

t o some suggestions . I think that all of our Commit ee would be glad to g over these h plans with the architects , and possibly we may make criticisms and suggestions whic ” w u ould better be done now than after the building is put p ; and the architects , l of course, were de ighted and they submitted their plans ; many invaluable sug gestions were made, the plans were worked over and still again ; and the correct taste

McK im l of goes into that bui ding also, as it has into the White House, as it did into i l the War College, and as it w ll u timately appear in the great park system of Wash ingt on. Our President needed to add nothing to the many reasons that I have for respect ff and a ection for him , but he did add to both of those by the steadfastness and gen erous appreciation with which he stood by M cK im in his strenuous efforts to prevent the park system plan from being overslaughed and rendered impossible by subse n quent i consistent construction .

’ M m his All of this work illustrated not only cK i s character as an artist , but unsel fishness n w , his love of his cou try , his pride in the capital city, hich we all believe

He l is to be so beautiful and so noble . did love his country and he was wi ling to in t spend himself without st t , in order tha his art might do its part in a noble and ’ M adequate expression of all that was best in his country s life . any great and noble lives have entered into the structure of American government and American free dom , but none in Executive Chair or in legislative hall deserves a higher meed of appreciation and grateful recognition for noble service to our country than the life

M K im t firs t c . a i of Charles It was the l st thought in his mind , but should be the

’ B nfant at ro b e Bulfinch in ours . y the side of L E , Thornton , Hoban , i and , the name of Charles Follen McK im should always be perpetuated among th e builders

- — of is b e the great genius gifted builders what to , I believe, the most noble and beautiful city in the world.

1 2

PR I D N T GI B R : n e n o n e f of ES E CASS L E T I tha k you , S ator, b hal

Institute . Mr den d a d n m n e t he n n d e . e n e e Presi t, La i s Ge tl , I hav ho or to i tro uc

1 3 H N B O PH HOD O ORA LE J SE GES CHOATE .

D I AN D M : men LA ES GENTLE EN This splendid audience of , and especially of

b e M m t ri iit Mr. cK i . women, is in itself a noble to the character and memory of It

too is not to be put to severe a test , however, and I shall content myself almost with

n o has P s Mr . Ro ot . I sayi g ditt to what already been said by the re ident and _ cannot

a bear the ide of keeping so many ladies standing longer . - M M m r. cK i I come here as a life long personal friend of , who knew him from u his boyhood p , to bear testimony to his wonderful virtues and merits and the signal

~ a beauty of his character . I have hardly ever known in human form personality n it more charming, more fascinating tha his . Whether was the 'uaker discipline under which his early days were passed, the strict hardships which he underwent ,

s ar o u m the p of necessity that drove him , his innate love of perfect for and of beauty , his innate hatred of all that was hideous and ugly ; there was a sweet reasonableness about him always and everywhere ; there seemed to be always accompanying him ,

flowin h g out from his person , a c arming humanity which warmly attached to him

e all who came in contact with him . I do not beli ve it was possible to know Charles

McK im er gnal without loving him , or to have come in p s contact with him without

r n admiring the wonde ful features of his character . O e signal trait that he had was

- in l e l in . a s absolute loyalty his friendships And let me give you g il ustration of that , because it was so conspicuous and so life-long and made such an impression in the

r m community in which the th ee lived , that I ust refer to the personal ties that bound

t h c a hr McK im toge her t ree su h gre t artists , t ee such brilliant geniuses as Charles , - w Stanford White , and Augustus Saint Gaudens . They were al ays united , always

r together , always in pe fect sympathy , aiding each other, criticising each other, and all three inspired with the same ambition to elevate the noble arts to which they were devoted ; and it was a terrible blow to the community and to the country when in mu the short space of three years they were all three taken fro s . Let me remind — you also of one other thing his absolute devotion and loyalty to the members of

a firm h r the gre t whic he formed and which is likely to continue his work , to t ans

He mit his great repute and the impres s of his genius for many years to come . di was such a gui ng spirit among them , so prominent , so active, so recognized by the

fir t as za community , and yet from s to l t , during the whole period of their organi tion , he never would permit anyth ing to be known or recogniz ed except as the work of 1 4 fi rm s the ; no personal claim of his own , no putting forward of one in preference

wa to the other ; and from beginning to end , as I believe , there never s a contract

h r taken , t ere neve was a piece of work commenced , except as the joint work of h all three, whic he insisted it should be from the beginning to the end . And then he was so modest withal ' That was one of the most charming traits of his char

— a influence acter beautiful in person , lofty in ide s , commanding in , he was as

es n e mod t , se sitive , tender as any woman or child could possibly b . I might tell Y n again what I told, in New ork, a perso al experience of him , when he came to — London to receive what , if he had been living he would again receive here, the — tribute of his whole profession the gold medal of the British Institute of Architects ,

1 0 . r which was given to him in 9 3 Why , he absolutely shrank from what he rega ded as the terrible ordeal to which he was to be subjected in coming forward to receive that medal and say the few words of recognition and thanks that were expected

m He from hi . was as modest as Washington was when he appeared before the

first r House of Burgesses, on his return from his successful milita y excursion into

Vir inia and western g , the Speaker, when he took his place among the Burgesses, said

Y o u e a few words of compliment to him . remember that he rose to r ply and was “

M r. wholly unable to command words , and the Speaker said to him , Sit down ,

Washington , your modesty is only equalled by your merit , and that is such that ” o r K im M . Mc r. . M no language can possibly do it justice S when came , Henry

am n White , whom I happy to see here to ight , and myself being lifelong friends of him his , he threw himself into our arms and said we must help and carry him through

He this terrible ordeal . And we did stand by him . appeared with most char act eris t ic modesty and dignity ; he received the medal ; he accepted it not as a

was tribute to himself , but to the great profession in America that he proud to

represent , and then , when congratulations began to come to him from this side of “ M s ” the water , he replied by cable, any thanks , but I still wear the ame hat . — Now , that was the beauty of it and of him no matter what happened , no matter

/h e what avalanches of praise and congratulations were heaped upon him , always wore the same hat , his head never swelled in the face of tributes and honors and praises that might well have turned the heads of far more public men than h e . l I really do not feel at liberty longer to detain the audience . I mere y came to — say how much I loved him to bear witness , as one of countless friends that he made s wherever he went , to the dignity , the sweetnes and the beauty of his character .

R I D N T CA I B R : I n th e n me of t he n e n P E S E ss G L E T a I stitut , I tha k Mr e . you , . Choat

I S MR CA B . SS GIL ERT .

MR . PRESI ENT LADI ES I N D G TL M : D , ' EN E EN This medal has been awarded to McK im e s Charles Follen for his distinguished s rvices to the Art , by the unanimous vote of the Convention of the American Institute of Architects . It is customary that on such an occasion theworks and services of the man should be recounted and the basis of the award stated , with the reasons governing his selec tion . But in this instance it is not necessary to add one word to what has already di been said, nor to recount the list of the works in which he had a stinguished part , so well known and so imposing . His monuments in bronze and marble will long enrich his native land ; his bene

in. factions , not measured alone the standards of commerce , have laid the sure foun dation of even greater monuments in the hearts of his countrymen . But it is not

’ h ofi er for these alone t at we this token of our praise and love .

his h . s The award of this medal can add nothing to onor Title , nor decorations ,

t . nor medals , nor any worldly hing can add to worth Character and merit are

othin i s um intrinsic . They are not conferred . N g we can do or say can add to the r .

Nobility is of the soul .

r - acrifice i Pat iotism , self s , patience, courage , achievement , are the ev dences of

s as . greatne s , and of these he gave full me ure

Such a man needs no acclaim , but that our estimate of his life and works shall be known of men , and that thereby others be inspired in noble emulation ; that we may testify to the world that in this age and among this people the great ideals common to the race are held in honor , and in reverence this medal is awarded . M r. s l h Mead, it now become my duty, and my privi ege, on be alf of the Institute ,

e s cc - e to deliv r to you, his as ociate , adjutor and friend, this token of the respect , lov m and honor in which we all held hi .

1 6 MR W AM F D D . ILLI RUTHER OR MEA .

M T T M d R . P A G N L EN : RESIDEN , L DIES AND E E As the close frien and associate of

Mr M cKim -fiv e e . for thirty years , it is with a mingled feeling of sadn ss and pride that I stand here to night to receive for him this medal .

Mr McKim Mr . . Choate, who stood by in London when the medal of the Royal

his Institute of British Architects was conferred upon him , has told you of feelings

difiidence a . of , amounting almost to panic , on that occ sion

‘ o l friends diffi den Here at home, and among d , he would have felt the same ce

He m and modesty in accepting this great honor . would have expressed hi sel f in a “ : hesitating manner , somewhat as follows Whatever I have been able to accomplish in th e fi el d of architecture has been from devotion to a great art and in the interes t

efl orts z of a noble profession . That my have been recogni ed by this representative body of American architects is a reward which I shall always cherish

V office I well remember when I told him a year ago , on one of his last isits to his ,

h him s ~ that t is medal had been voted to , the deprecating smile he gave , a smile expre s

s ing both modesty and plea ure . h — Suc was the man modestly sinking his own personality , but always strong for the best , not only in his own work , but for the profession of which he was such an honored member .

Accepting the medal in his behalf , I shall place it in the hands of his daughter , who will preserve it as a precious memento of th e regard in which her father was held

th e by American Institute of Arch itects which he served so faithfully . Mr e d nd ed t he med e McK im t h d e . M a ha al to Miss Margar t , e aught r

of Mr e F en McK im m d n ed e . Charl s oll , a i prolo g applaus .

PR I D N T CA GI B R : d e and en eme n in n ES E ss L E T La i s g tl , closi g this mee n de e o n e f of t h e me n n e of hi e ti g, I sir , b hal A rica I stitut Arc t cts ,

nde e e e e e em n e e ee n e d n fo r u r whos auspic s th s c r o i s hav b h l , to tha k you

e en e your pr s c .

TRIEUTES OF RESPECT

TO

C HARL E S F O L L E N M c K l M

PRESENTED BY

NATIONAL FINE ARTS ASSOCIATIONS

AT THE

MEMORIAL MEETING

OF THE

Am e ric a n I n s t it u t e o f Arc h it e c t s

DECEMBER 15 , | 909

T D Y F THE NA ION AL ACA EM O ART .

Incorporated by Act of Congress .

P PO T MORGAN Presideht . J . IER N ,

' This Society wishes to express it s appreciation of and pay its tribute to the memory of Charles Follen M cK im : hi For s patriotic service in the development of Washington city .

For his promotion of art education by conferring Architectural Fellowships in Columbia and Harvard Universities and by the foundation of the American Academy in Rome .

influence t s l For his elevating and lasting on archi ecture , furni hing mode s in

s y grouping and landscape setting , showing proportion in ma s , beauty in line , harmon

refinement in color , feeling in texture and in detail .

his For joining and harmonizing the related arts of landscape , painting , sculpture and architecture .

ff influencin s For his e ective guidance, g individuals , ocieties , corporate and

o fficial s . municipal authorities and government , in the direction of pure art

G N W LE N BRO N ,

t r S ecre a y. I 9 C D Y OF AN D THE AMERICAN A A EM ARTS LETTERS .

The American Academy of Arts and Letters desires to reiterate on t his occasion

fine McK im its appreciation of the service rendered to the arts by Charles Follen , one

b x s wa of its most highly honored mem ers and founders . Full e pre sion of its tribute s

et Y given at the recent Memorial Me ing in New ork . Once again it is glad to com memorate his thorough training ; his genius in collaboration ; his persuasion and

of n r r h s r compulsion clie ts , public and p ivate, to generous enterp ise ; i maste y of structure and ornament ; the strength he gave to mural painting , the sculpture and

c the engineering in their correlation to architecture , and above all to the gra e and i power of a character that expresses itself in creations that were marked by restra nt , by proportion , and by repose .

m of His work arks a stage in the advance taste, he was an interpreter of a people

s an i m a to it elf, d his name w ll be a ong the foremost in the history of his art and re d

r w n by future gene ations hen writte . W LL AM M G I I ILLI AN SLOANE ,

Chancel l or .

T OF A D NATIONAL INS ITUTE ARTS N LETTERS .

I have the honor to expres s to the American Institute of Architects the profound and sincere grief of the Natio nal Institute of Arts and Letters upon the death of its d an n cK im istinguished d lamented member, Charles Folle M . The fine arts in America have felt an onward impulse from his quiet but potent

‘ taste ; and the most fit t ing monument t o his genius is embodied in the enduring work

d . with which he has adorne our cities I have the honor to remain ,

Y s our truly , M S . O HARRISON RRIS,

UNITED ACTION OF THE FOLLOWING ART SOCIETIES

P MUS UM OF ART THE METRO OLITAN E ,

ACAD MY OF D GN THE NATIONAL E ESI ,

AM RI C AC D MY ROM THE E AN A E IN E ,

Y RK H PT R OF M N OF THE NEw O C A E THE A ERICA INSTITUTE ARCHITECTS,

U Y o n OF CO U M BI A V Y THE FAC LT FINE ARTS L UNI ERSIT ,

M AC D M Y OF THE A ERICAN A E ARTS AND LETTERS,

OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ARTS AND LETTERS ,

K Y o n THE BROO L N INSTITUTE ARTS AND SCIENCE, M D W THE C O ELL ASSOCIATION,

MU C PA ART OCI TY THE NI I L S E ,

U P Y THE NATIONAL SC L TURE SOCIET ,

AT ON A OC TY OF MURA P THE N I L S IE L AINTERS,

OC TY OF B AU THE S IE E ' ARTS ARCHITECTS,

K THE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE OF N EW Y OR .

Fourteen associations , artistic , technical and literary , here unite to commemorate

o M cK im . the distincti n of Charles Follen as a citizen , as a craftsman and as an artist

To this end they join in recording these convictions . His life was an example of that which a creative architect must imperatively

. d choose His secondary training completed , he devote ten years to his professional H fiv e e fiv e . e education ; to that of disciplin , to that of knowledge was stimulated to great thoughts and he had acquired the power to express them . His genius was exh ibited in his supreme power of collaboration ; he linked his work and fame inseparably with those of his two original partners , primarily for the sake of comprehensive mastery but thus incidental ly for the perfecting of achieve

inhombinat ion ment by each singly as well as by all . B s d y such means were attracted a great body of important client , indivi ual , corporate and national ; among thes e he easily commanded a leadership which they

a res o n as re dily accepted , and from its consequences he never shrank , assuming p s ibilit an y to any extent for design , procedure d results .

r His choice of style was predete mined by ancestry , temperament and training , h for his soul was akin to that ighest form of civilization which is marked by dignity ,

s repo e and proportion . As the great painter elaborates on the basis of strong draw

c ing , whether of brush or pen il , so this great architect imagined and used structure that was itself poetic, the degree of elaboration and ornament being determined by

use adaptation to and environment . 2 1 To the ancillary arts of the engineer , the painter and the sculptor, his indebted ness was freely acknowledged and their splendors are nowhere more manifest than

’ firm i afi o rd in the building of his , because of the opportun ty there ed and the zeal they a there exhibit to be parts of a h rmonious whole . l His work , ike that of all true artists , was the expression of his manhood . His

t f —sacrificin character was strong as it was pure , his disposi ion a fectionate and self g ,

o He his mind vigorous , helpful and n ble . was a lover of his kind , discerning reality h h be ind the ideals of his fellow Americans , intolerant only of pose and s am . Because

and of his strong courageous heart he was genial but modest ; joyous , even gay , and gentle . u There is no perfection in h manity , but the nearest approach to it in a man is discernment to tendencies , emancipation of uplifting qualities and the interpretation of - l a community to itself . Holding this as self evident truth we are fi rm y convinced that the loving and grateful memory in which his generation holds him ' that the

an structures public and private alike, which he designed and built d which testify to the aspirations of an epoch , all bear witness that as man , citizen and artist there K im s Mc . is the highest fame , permanent and de erved , for Charles Follen

Y THE NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIET .

fit t in we For the personal cause as for the general , it is g that , the National

Sculpture Society, should voice our love and reverence for the memory of Charles Kim Follen Mc . This great architect was allied in closest bonds of fellowship with the great ' m - scul ptor whose passing was but yesterday . Two aster minds in communion

— flash exchanged rich gifts each with the other now the swift of insight , now the slowly ripened fruit of artistic experience .

influe ces ? i McK im Who shall measure such n Evenw thout them , Charles Follen ,

a spirit ever sensitive to beauty, would doubtless have cherished the art of sculpture , both for itself and in its relation to his chosen work . But by the love of his friend , and by the strength of his own instinct , he came into the possession of a singularly just and generous understanding of this our art , so that no good work from our

He hands was ever alien to his sympathies . delighted equally in the exquisite pagan

’ ’ Ma M n e . grace of c o ni s Bacchante, and the splendid calm of French s Alma Mater His breadth of view on the subject of sculpture could never degenerate into

2 2

o Praise of his architectural work is up n the lips of all artists, but as Mural Painters we wish especially to emphasiz e the fact that the present success of decora tive painting in our public buildings in the United States received its greatest

s M cK im he impetus through the noble decoration planned by , Mead and White for t

P . Boston ublic Library, and executed by various artists of distinction To our recognition of the archit eet ural triumphs of Charles Follen McK im we must add that of the deep personal interest he displayed in the establishment of the

American Academy in Rome .

We wish wparticul arl y to emphasize his devotion to the ideas embodied in the foundation of this our National School of Foreign Study of Art ; because in this u P school , Architecture, Sc lpture and ainting are to be studied together , fostering a n more perfect knowledge of the interdepende ce of all the arts of design . To enumerate the advantages which the public have received from this great e architect, or ven to state the good done mural painting by his life and work, would

me o be a more proper subject for a biography than for a m rial of this nature . There fore we limit ourselves to these few and imperfect but heartfelt words of admiration .

H B A HFI res d W . S D P i ent ED IN L EL , ,

WM U R HA S ecretar . LA EL RRIS, y,

D e 1 1 0 S ociet o M ur l ain ers cember 5 , 9 9 . y f a P t .

GU OF Y K THE ARCHITECTURAL LEA E NEW OR .

CH R F O MeK M A LES LLEN 1 .

A marked change has occurred during the last thirty years in the attitude of

the public toward the profession of the architect . It has been of such a nature as to constitute a significant step in the progress of civil ization in this country

ul n tr n i Such a res t can ot be at ibuted e t rely to the work of one individual , but

it can be truly said, that in so far as it is possible for a man, animated by the purest hi w motives , sustained by the ghest ideals, pursuing ith courage and consistency a

i and single lofty purpose to upl ft the thought character of his generation, this change M may be justly ascribed to the life and work of Charles Follen cKim.

24

Happily for us his opportunities were many . The monuments which he has

f . le t will survive us all , and stand as typ es of purity, simplicity and beauty But the i h great lesson wh c he taught , and that of which he was so modestly unconscious, was through the example of a noble life, devoted to the art which he loved , and to the community in which he lived . This inheritance it is our duty to preserve and

u Y perpetuate . The Architect ral League of New ork is honored in adding this tribute to his memory .

C. GRAN T F ARG LA E ,

Presideh t .

C D Y OF D THE NATIONAL A A EM ESIGN .

The Nat ional Academy of D esign desires to make some expression of its sense

' d eath of cK im of the loss to America and to Art in the untimely Charles Follen M .

c influence In his own art of archite ture his was , perhaps , more dominating and more b eneficial than that of any of his contemporaries ; but this influence was not felt in a n th t art alone . O both sculpture and painting in their relation to architecture it

efi ects d was directly exerted , while its indirect were even more wi ely felt , and many

' a painter or sculptor whose work was not sp ecifical ly decorative in its purpose has

a his u felt the stimulus of his purity of t ste, love of bea ty , his constant striving for

Mr McK im r . . r perfection was a membe of this Academy , and we have, the efore , a s ecial in c care for p cause besides that we have ommon with all those who art , to mourn v this true artist and kindly gentleman W . ' ER President JOHN ALE AND , ,

RB ER ADAM S Vice—President HE T , , H W . . R Corres ondin S ecretar WAT OUS, p g y,

K Y CO' Recordin S ecretér EN ON , g y,

F RAN CI S C . Treasurer JONES , , H . o w WILL L ,

J . ALDEN WEIR , W F R D RI CK . K E E OST,

H B A HF W . L ED IN S IELD ,

F RE R CK D M DE I IEL AN ,

C S B AS GIL ERT ,

mi' tt Com ee.

2 5 H V D V Y AR AR UNI ERSIT .

M cK im In the artistic career of Charles Follen , Harvard University recognizes an influence to which the architectural profession in America owes much that is best in the accomplishment of recent years . Not only in the important work which was executed by the firm to which he belonged and to which he contributed so large a

influence part , but in his personal , and especially in the active support Which he

M r McK im fl gave to architectural education, . exerted an in uence upon architecture in America which is likely to be lasting . It is largely through the work of his firm that the country has learned to appreciate the great capabilities of the most refined m l period of the Renaissance in the solution of odern problems . His de icate sense

refi eme t , n n of proportion his in the treatment of detail , his_ feeling for color and texture in his buildings are among the qualitiesin which his work stands pre-eminent

r m influe ce and which b ought to A erican architecture an n which was much needed .

Mr McK im ff . always showed for Harvard University strong a ection and loyalty ,

1 866—1 86 although he was a student at the University for only a single year , 7 , as a

cie t ifi c special student in the Lawrence S n School . The distinguished work which n he had done , which had given him a positio of unusual and generally recognized

— 1 8 0 pre eminence in his profession , led the University in 9 to confer upon him its honorary degree of Master of Arts .

’ Al c Mr McK im m though the University cannot laim to possess any of . s ost

1 owm i D. important works, it is fortunate g to him the splend d series of gates and enclosing fence which are in such admirable harmony with its older and finer build n ings . It possesses also, from his hand, The Harvard U ion, and Robinson Hall ,

D 1 0 1 im the home of its epartment of Architecture, both completed in 9 , and the pos

l fiel d ing Stadium for its ath etic .

Mr McK im D e . always followed the epartment of Archit cture of the University

1 0 with keen interest, and in 9 4 founded, in memory of his wife, the Julia Amory

F el l ow hi i Appleton s p n Architecture, which gives an annual stipend of to a t h graduate in architecture of e University pursuing advanced studies in Europe .

’ Mr M cK im s . greatest contribution to the development of architectural educa dl m tion in America was undoubte y in the founding of the A erican Academy in Rome,

a d to which he largely contributed money n time during his life, and to which he left the greater part of his property on his death . n While , therefore , the U iversity has strong ground for grateful recognition of M M m’ M M m’ r. cK i s r. cK i s memory, it desires especially to record its belief that a work and ex mple , more perhaps than that of any other architect in America , has

2 6 tended to raise the standard of taste throughout the country , both in his own pro fession and among the public .

W S GLENN BRO N , E ' ,

D EAR SI R : I take pleasure in sending for the meeting of the American Institute

D 1 1 0 n a re of Architects to be held on ecember 5 , 9 9 , a brief memorial expressi g the pp ciat io n of Harvard University of the services of the late Charles Follen M cK im to the

r fine a ts .

Very sincerely yours, A OW . W LA RENCE L ELL ,

President .

UMB A V Y COL I UNI ERSIT .

Y F F FACULT O INE ARTS .

D ecember 1 1 0 4 , 9 9 . TH M OF E A ERICAN INSTITUTE ARCHITECTS ,

S G D . C. WA HIN TON,

I have received your kind letter asking that the Faculty of Fine Arts of Columbia

’ M r Mc K im University should give expression to its appreciation of the late . s really

. us wonderful work Let me thank you , in behalf of the Faculty , for asking to join

n with you in this way at the memorial meeting, when your medal for disti guished

merit is to be awarded .

M McK im u The help which r. gave s here at Columbia was so effective and is so constantly before our eyes that we may truly be said to live in the p resence of a

memorial reared to him . The whole plan in accordance with which the external

idea wil l form of the University gradually takes shape is his, and his s thus be trans

mi ed u M M m t t s . r K i among from generation to generation Most truly was . c one of — “ those architects whom Vitruvius presents as his ideal 'ui scientia pl erarumque ” l it t erarum et erv e erint ad artium nutriti p n summum templum architectura . V ery faithfully yours, A . R. ctin D ean J WHEELER, g ,

F or the F acul t o F me Ar s y f t . 2 7 THE AMERICAN ACAD EMY IN ROME.

M F M AD President WILLIA RUTHER ORD E ,

s e inRo me rt o The trustee of the Am rican Academy , joining in the tribute of hono

McK im the memory of Charles Follen , one of the founders of the Academy and its - President until his death , desire to record their appreciation of his single minded and

- d o broad spirite devotion to the interests of his professi n . His intensity of interest

m inRo me was tangibly realized in the organization of the American Acade y . is This originated at the close of the Chicago Exposition, struggled for ex tence

final l 1 0 final e for a decade and was y launched in 9 5 , with every prospect of stablish t ment on a permanent footing , by subscriptions for more han half of the proposed endowment fund of one million dollars and by an Act of Incorporation by Congress .

r McK im The Academy represented to M . the accomplishment of his most

c nfidence cherished desire . His o in its utility was absolutely unwavering ; his

n un ual i d ' i fie . belief its success was q by doubt or by discouragement His great faith ,

n er ua w e e his co tagious enthusiasm , his p s s andgentlepersistence , mad the continuance

th e i of Academy a possibility . Those who were closely associated w th him know

h is He that of all his achievements this was nearest heart . often said he would rather be remembered by his connection with the foundation and es tablishment of the Academy than by anything else . His failing health incapacitated him from continuing hisefforts for the Academy and he regretfully yielded to others the duty ‘ v of completing his work , testifying to his undiminished interest by lea ing at his death the whole of his property to the Institution subject only to his daughter ’s life interes t . Once permanently established in Rome the Academy will always remain a monument to his memory .

F . D M . ILLET,

' B H E HI ITION IN T E OCTAGON .

PHOTOGRAPHS AN D D RAWI N GS .

M CK I M M WHI ARCHI C . , EAD TE, TE TS

D n the n en n n e ex n of th e o f McK im uri g Co v tio a otabl hibitio work ,

e e n Th e n M ad 8: Whit was shown i Octago .

i ex n fil l ed t h e e o n t he firs t fl of t he Th s hibitio , which wall spac oor

d n ed th e e n for m t h e en e of buil i g illustrat thoroughly appr ciatio ass , s s proportion and th e harmony between landscape and surrounding build

n z z m e e and nd d e th e of fir . i gs , which charact ri i ivi uali work this Th e qualities of restraint and beauty shown in t h e completed

e t h e W e no t n e n t h e f effe o f structur by photographs , hil co v yi g ull ct

ex e and m n of d em n e t he n influence o f t tur har o y color , o strat lasti g

n t h e e e of t h e n this work upo archit ctur cou try .

m n t h e n e d n n are t he B n Sim e A o g otabl buil i gs show osto Library, pl and di nified t he m n e e g ; Colu bia U iv rsity Library, with its approach s and e e th e m n e mde n m n t h e e Penns l t rrac s , ost obl o r co positio ; gr at y n n e ned and th e n e va ia Statio , w ll proportio practical ; U iv rsity Club ,

N ew Y n e in effe e m t h e n a m n ork, u iqu ctiv si plicity Morga Libr ry, char i g in refinement ; t h e base of t h e She rman monument and t h e se tting o f t h e em an e e e men fo r t h e e n Shaw M orial , appr ciativ tr at t gr at Sai t

den re the e of d m n e Gau s sculptu s ; Gat s Harvar , char i g approach s to

o ld e of e n n and t he hin n n -t he n e this s at l ar i g ; Was gto Park Pla , obl st de n for sig a capital city .

ex n fit ness n e refinement This hibitio shows that , proportio , b auty, ,

d and n e fe n e e th e em be e m stu y strivi g at p r ctio , wh th r probl gr at or s all , are e en always vid t .

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