The American Architect from the Colonial Era to the Present / Edition 1

by Cecil D. Elliott

Overview

The later Colonial era saw a need to replace the buildings hurriedly assembled by earlier colonists, but competent builders were difficult to find. Capable housewrights were usually well paid and many became respected and prosperous members of their communities, but craft apprenticeships and a gentlemanly taste were two of the primary requirements for becoming an architect. As the profession developed, architects in the Northeast initiated efforts to distinguish between their work and that of housewrights and builders.

This work is a history of the development of architecture as a profession in the United States. It is divided into four chronological sections. Section One covers the beginnings in Colonial times before 1800 when there were no identifiable professionals. Section Two examines architecture from 1800 to the Civil War, a period during which the first architects appeared. Section Three considers the profession from the time of the Civil War to World War I and the strengthening of the profession's status. Section Four covers architecture since World War I up to the present. Each section discusses the training of architects, standards of practice, general management methods, information sources, minority participation, and other aspects of professional operation, with special attention given to the relationship between the profession's development and the social history of the periods.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786413911
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	11/27/2002
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	199
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

The late Cecil D. Elliott was a professor emeritus of architecture from North Dakota State University. He lived in Fargo, North Dakota.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface    
A Note to the Reader    

BEFORE 1800: COLONIAL ORIGINS
A Compelling Need for Buildings    
Carpenters, Builders, and Gentlemen    
Apprenticeship and Education    
Colonial Books and Libraries    
Westward Colonization    

1800 TO THE CIVIL WAR: FORMATION OF THE PROFESSION    
The New Capital    
Defining the Profession    
The Government as a Client    
Matters of Faith    
Available Knowledge    
Professional Libraries    
Arrivals from Europe    
The Southern Frontier    
A Professional Community    
Architects’ Fees    
Documents and Contracts    
State Capitols    
Westward Movement    

THE CIVIL WAR TO WORLD WAR I: STRENGTHENING THE PROFESSION   
Immigration    
Publications    
Learning in Europe    
Learning in the United States    
The Government’s Own Architects    
The AIA Revived and Challenged    
Women Architects    
Registration    
Competitions    
Unfortunate Political Involvements    
Practices and Partnerships    
Extending Practices    
Drawings and Specifications    
Staff    
The First African-American Architects    
Specialization    
Battling the Government    

WORLD WAR I TO THE PRESENT: ADAPTATION TO EXTREMES    
World War I    
The Small House Movement    
Estates and Mansions    
Women in Architecture    
The American Beaux-Arts    
Sketch Clubs    
Government Relations    
African-American Architects    
Associated Architects    
The Great Depression    
World War II    
Registration and Reciprocity    
New Influences on Practice    
Deprofessionalization    
The Present    

Notes    
Bibliography    
Index    

Editorial Reviews

meticulously researched...insightful...highly informative”—Public Library Quarterly; “interesting”—Catholic Library World.

From the Publisher

"interesting"

Catholic Library World

meticulously researched...insightful...highly informative

Public Library Quarterly