Alexander Jackson Davis papers

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Collection Data

Description
Alexander Jackson Davis (1803-1892), the American architect, started working as a draftsman for Josiah C. Brady and Ithiel Town in New York City. He became Town's partner in 1829 and they collaborated on public structures, including the New York Customs House (1832) and various state capitols. When Davis went into business on his own, he continued to design public buildings but concentrated on designs for large country and suburban houses. Collection consists of the papers of Alexander Jackson Davis and his son Joseph Beale Davis. A.J. Davis papers contain correspondence, accounts, legal papers, lectures, writings, architectural specifications, drawings and engravings, diary, scrapbooks, catalog of his library, and miscellaneous materials. Bulk of the correspondence consists of letters, 1829-1890, to Davis concerning architectural projects and other business and personal matters. Writings and notes of Davis include diary, 1827-1853, and lectures with related materials. Scrapbooks contain engravings and woodcuts from books, drawings and watercolors of architectural details by Davis, and clippings. Also, architectural specifications, drawings and engravings for his designs. J.B. Davis papers include correspondence, mostly letters, 1895-1937, to Davis; materials related to the Davis and Beale families; biographical notes; and other materials, such as photographs, engravings and clippings.
Names
Davis, Alexander Jackson, 1803-1892 (Creator)
Allen, John (Contributor)
Cooke-Davis, Philip St. George (Contributor)
Dakin, James H. (Contributor)
Davis, Joseph Beale (Creator)
Eddy, James, 1806-1888 (Contributor)
Hunt, Francis Key (Contributor)
Jones, George, d. 1878 (Contributor)
Morehead, John Motley, 1796-1866 (Contributor)
Swain, David L. (David Lowry), 1801-1868 (Contributor)
Town, Ithiel, 1784-1844 (Contributor)
Beal family (Contributor)
Byrd family (Contributor)
Davis family (Contributor)
Nicholson family (Contributor)
Town and Davis (Firm) (Contributor)
Dates / Origin
Date Created: 1791 - 1937
Library locations
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Shelf locator: MssCol 734
Topics
Architects
Architecture -- Designs and plans
Architecture -- United States
Architecture, Domestic -- United States
Art, Egyptian
Art, Gothic
Art, Greek
Art, Roman
Gothic revival (Architecture) -- United States
Historic buildings -- Designs and plans -- United States
Public buildings -- United States
Genres
Drawings
Diaries
Architectural drawings
Maps
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Correspondence
Documents
Records (Documents)
Notes
Biographical/historical: Alexander Jackson Davis (1803-1892), the American architect, started working as a draftsman for Josiah C. Brady and Ithiel Town in New York City. He became Town's partner in 1829 and they collaborated on public structures, including the New York Customs House (1832) and various state capitols. When Davis went into business on his own, he continued to design public buildings but concentrated on designs for large country and suburban houses.
Content: Collection consists of the papers of Alexander Jackson Davis and his son Joseph Beale Davis.
Ownership: 1941 Davis, Joseph Beale; Swann Gallery Purchase
Physical Description
Extent: 3 linear feet (8 boxes, 8 v.)
Type of Resource
Text
Still image
Cartographic
Identifiers
NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b11822956
MSS Unit ID: 734
RLIN/OCLC: NYPW93-A179
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 4dc136b0-b094-0136-8240-6bc0ef4ecdd6
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x Genre: Correspondence