Architects to the Nation: The Rise and Decline of the Supervising Architect's Office
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Author Description
This unique book traces the evolution and accomplishments of the office that from 1852 until 1939 held a virtual monopoly over federal building design. Among its more memorable buildings are the Italianate U.S. Mint in Carson City, the huge granite pile of the State, War, and Navy Building in Washington, D.C., the towering U.S. Post Office in Nashville, New York City's neo-Renaissance customhouse, and such "restorations" as the ancient adobe Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe. In tracing the evolution of the Office and its creative output, Antoinette J. Lee evokes the nation's considerable efforts to achieve an appropriate civic architecture.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the historical trajectory and architectural legacy of the Supervising Architect's Office, which served as the primary entity for federal building design in the United States from 1852 to 1939. Antoinette J. Lee, a noted architectural historian, utilizes archival records and building surveys to document how this centralized office shaped the aesthetic and functional identity of American civic structures. The work argues that the office's output reflects the shifting priorities of the federal government regarding national identity, bureaucratic efficiency, and architectural style.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A comprehensive history of the Supervising Architect's Office from its inception in 1852 to its dissolution in 1939.
- Analysis of diverse architectural styles including Italianate, neo-Renaissance, and neoclassical designs.
- Case studies of prominent federal buildings such as the State, War, and Navy Building and the U.S. Mint in Carson City.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide an exhaustive catalog of every minor structure commissioned by the office.
- It does not focus on post-1939 federal architecture or the contemporary successor agencies.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the institutional history of American federal architecture. Readers frequently note the meticulous research and the author's ability to contextualize bureaucratic evolution within the broader history of American design.
Page Count:
336
Publication Date:
2000-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190284498
ISBN-13:
9780190284497
History
Architecture
United States
Professional Career & Trade
History of Architecture
Public buildings
American History
Government
Technology Design
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