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Thomas T. Waterman Architectural Plans and Drawings

Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Dumbarton Oaks Archives, Washington, D.C.

 

Repository: Dumbarton Oaks Archives, Washington, D.C.

Call Number: Waterman Drawings

Location: Archives 058, A5 and B1

Name of Creator(s): Thomas T. Waterman and Various Office Staff

Title: Thomas T. Waterman Architectural Plans and Drawings

Inclusive Date: ca. 1938–1946

Language(s): English

Quantity: 73 drawings.

 

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information: Most of these plans and drawings came to Dumbarton Oaks at an unknown date. Some (unidentified) were an unrestricted gift of Georgia C. (Mrs. Howard F.) Reed, sister of Thomas T. Waterman, Springfield, Mass., in December, 1952.

Processing Information: The Thomas T. Waterman Architectural Plans and Drawings were inventoried by James N. Carder in 2002.

Terms of Use and Access: These plans and drawings can be used for research and publication purposes.

Physical Access: An appointment is required for access to these plans and drawings. For appointment and queries, fill out the online form.

Preferred Citation: Thomas T. Waterman Architectural Plans and Drawings, Dumbarton Oaks Archives. Courtesy of Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, D.C.

 

Historical Note

Thomas Tileston Waterman (1900–1951) was an architect and architectural historian. He studied and published early American buildings, especially in the Tidewater, Virginia area, and between 1928 and 1932, worked on major architectural reconstruction projects at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, with the Boston architectural firm, Perry, Shaw, and Hepburn. After graduating from high school, Waterman clerked in the Boston architectural firm of Cram and Ferguson, where he informally studied for eight years with Ralph Adams Cram. In 1919, he came under the influence of the antiquarian William Sumner Appleton, who had founded the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. In 1932, he became an architectural consultant to Henry Francis du Pont and his home, Winterthur, in Delaware, and in 1933, he was employed by the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., where he would come to work on the Historic American Buildings Survey.  In 1938, Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss engaged Thomas T. Waterman to design the two-pavilion museum wing at Dumbarton Oaks, which was completed in 1940. The following year, he converted two guest bedrooms into a library reading room, and in 1946 designed a hallway that connected the museum wing directly to the main house.

Additional architectural plans and drawings by Thomas T. Waterman for Dumbarton Oaks are in the Prints and Photographs division of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., ADE – Unit 1811–1813:

 

3 Design Drawings for a Desk for a Museum (“Dumbarton Oaks”) for Robert Woods Bliss, 1703 32nd Street, Washington, D.C., [graphite], 1938, ADE – Unit 1811.

  • Details, Desk for Robert Woods Bliss, 2/4/1938

3 Architectural Drawings for a Museum (“Museum Wing–Dumbarton Oaks”) for Robert Woods Bliss, 1703 32nd Street, Washington, D.C., [graphite and bl], ca. 1938–1940, ADE – Unit 1812.

  • Full Scale Detail: Balustrade, undated;
  • West Elevation: Door, Entrance Steps, undated;
  • Full Scale Detail: Cornice, undated

13 Architectural Drawings for a Museum and Renovations of a House (“Dumbarton Oaks”) for Robert Woods Bliss, 1703 32nd Street, Washington, D.C., [graphite and colored pencil], ca. 1942–1946, ADE – Unit 1813.

  • Plan of 2nd Floor and of Floor Above, 8/3/1942;
  • Proposed New Passageway: Proposed Alterations & Reassignment of Space, 2nd Floor Plan (General), 12/28/1945;
  • General 1st Floor Plan, 12/28/1945
  • General Basement Plan, 1/16/1946;
  • South Elevation (West End): Proposed Alteration, 1/21/1946;
  • Southwest Elevation of West Wing, 1/21/1946;
  • Alternate Scheme (South Elevation at West End), 2/5/1946;
  • Plan of 2nd Floor and of Balcony, 2/16/1946;
  • Proposed Staircase (North Bay), 3/5/1946;
  • Proposed Alterations & Reassignment of Space: Passageway, 4/15/1946;
  • Alterations to the Dining Room, 4/25/1946;
  • Elevation: Doorway (Arched), 5/15/1946;
  • Curving Stair to Balcony, 5/15/1946;

 

Scope and Content

The Thomas T. Waterman architectural plans and drawings comprise material and copies of this material for building, additions, and renovations to Dumbarton Oaks undertaken between 1938 and 1946.

 

Extent

73 drawings.

 

Collection Inventory and Description

 

Ca. 1938–1939 Plans for Byzantine Collection Wing (First Museum Wing) by Mildred & Robert Woods Bliss, Designers, and Thomas T. Waterman, Washington, D.C.

Thomas T. Waterman

1262 21st Street, NW

Washington, D.C.

 

Berrall & Locraft (Bernard F. Locraft)

Civil Engineers

615 Colorado Building

Washington, D.C.

 

William K. Karsunky

Consulting Engineer

1223 Connecticut Ave.

Washington, D.C.

 

Charles F. Biele & Sons

39 Bethune St.

New York, N.Y.

  • Loggia Plan, [bp], no date [unsigned];
  • Survey for Proposed Museum[title altered to Survey for Proposed Addition], [bp w/ crayon], 2/26/1938 [Berrall & Locraft];
  • S1 Foundation Plan, [bl and bp], 9/15/1938, 10/15/1938
  • S2 First Floor Framing Plan, [bl and bp], 9/151938, 10/15/1938
  • S3 Second Floor Framing Plan, [bl and bp], 9/151938, 10/15/1938, 12/6/1938, 3/2/1939;
  • S4 Roof Framing Plan, [bl and bp], 9/15/1938, 2/9/1939, 3/22/1939;
  • S5 Roof Truss Details, [bl and bp], 9/15/1938, 10/15/1938, 2/9/1939;
  • S6 Roof Truss Details, [bl and bp], 9/15/1938, 10/15/1938, 3/2/1939;
  • X Projection Plan, [bp] 9/15/1938;
  • 1 Foundation Plan, [pen, bp and bl], 9/15/1938, 11/3/1938, 2/1/1939;
  • 2 First Floor Plan, [pen, bp and bl], 9/15/1938, 11/3/1938, 11/17/1938, 7/7/1939, 11/2/1939;
  • 3 Second Floor Plan, [pen, bp and bl], 9/15/1938, 11/3/1938;
  • 4 Roof Plan, [pen, bp and bl], 9/15/1938, 11/3/1938;
  • 5 Cross Section—Looking West & West Elevation, [pen, bp and bl], 9/15/1938, 11/3/1938;
  • 6 North-South & East Elevations Great Room Wing, [pen, bp and bl], 9/15/1938, 11/3/1938, 11/3/1939;
  • 7 North-South & East Elevations Library Wing, [pen, bp and bl], 9/15/1938, 11/3/1938;
  • 8 Wall Sections, Chimney Details, [pen and bl], 10/1/1938, 11/14/1938;
  • [elevations and sections], [pen and bp], no date;
  • PE-1 Plumbing & Electric Wiring Basement Floor Plan, [bp and bl], 9/15/1938;
  • PE-2 Plumbing & Electric Wiring First Floor Plan, [bp and bl], 9/15/1938;
  • PE-3 Plumbing & Electric Wiring Second Floor Plan, [bp and bl], 9/15/1938;
  • 202 Full Size Detail of “C” Windows, Gallery Side of Court, [pencil], 12/28/1938, 1/19/1939, 2/29/1939;
  • 104 Marble Floors, [bp], 8/16/1939;
  • Details of Display Cases New Museum Wing, [bp], 2/18/1939 (initialed T.W.);
  • Details of Display Cases New Museum Wing, [bp], 2/18/1939, 3/1/1939 (initialed T.W.);
  • Details of Exhibition Cases, [bp], 4/24/1939 (initialed T.W.);
  • Bronze & Glass Case on Antique Wood Base, [bp], 9/26/1939 (initialed T.W.) (2 copies)

 

1941 Renovation of Second Floor for Byzantine Studies Library and Reading Room by Thomas T. Waterman, Washington, D.C.

  • Second Floor Plan, [bl], 5/21/1941;
  • Proposed Rearrangement of 2nd Floor, [pencil], 6/5/1941, 6/10/1941;
  • New Library Second Floor Main House, [pencil], 7/16/1941;
  • New Library Main House, [pencil and bp], 7/16/1941;
  • Bookcase for South Wall, [pencil], no date;
  • Scheme “A” New Library—Main House, [pencil and bp], 7/24/1941;
  • Scheme “B” New Library Main House, [bp], 7/24/1941;
  • Scheme “B” New Library Main House, [pencil and bp], 7/24/1941;
  • 1 New Library Main House, [pencil and bp], 8/8/1941;
  • 2 Scheme “B” New Library Main House, [pencil and bp], 7/24/1941, 8/8/1941;
  • 1 Plan New Library, [pencil and bp], 9/12/1941;
  • 2 Elevations—New Library, [pencil and bp], no date (presumed 9/12/1941);
  • 3 New Library, [pencil and bp], 9/12/1941
  • F S Details at New Library, [pencil], 9/12/1941;
  • F S Plan Sections Library, [pencil], 9/12/1941

 

Ca. 1945–1946 Drawings and Plans for Byzantine Collection Wing by Thomas T. Waterman, Washington, D.C.

Thomas T. Waterman

1262 21st Street, NW

Washington, D.C.

 

Berrall & Locraft (Bernard F. Locraft)

Civil Engineers

615 Colorado Building

Washington, D.C.

 

Jack Stone Company

Arlington, Va.

General Basement Plan, [bp], 1/16/1946 (signed Thomas T. Waterman);

  • General Basement Plan, [bp], 1/16/1946, 3/22/1946 (signed Thomas T. Waterman);
  • General First Floor Plan, [bp], 12/28/1945, 1/21/1946, 3/22/1946 (signed Thomas T. Waterman);
  • General Second Floor Plan, [bp], 12/28/1945, 1/21/1946, 3/22/1946 (signed Thomas T. Waterman)
  • Detail Section of Passageway, [bp], 3/7/1946, 4/15/1946 (signed);
  • Stone Details Proposed New Passageway, [bp], 4/15/1946 (signed);
  • Alterations to Passage, Textile Gallery to Main Bldg., General Floor Plan, [bp], no date (2 copies);
  • 3 Proposed New Passageway, [bp], 2/16/1946, 2/20/1946, 2/26/1946, 3/21/1946 (signed);
  • 4 Proposed New Passageway, [bp], 2/16/1946, 2/20/1946, 2/26/1946, 3/21/1946 (signed);
  • Detail Section of Passageway, [bp], 3/7/1946, 4/15/1946 (signed);
  • Proposed New Passageway Textile Gallery & Library, Plans, [bp], 4/5/1946 (signed);
  • Proposed New Passageway Textile Gallery & Library, Elevations & Sections, [bp], 4/5/1946;
  • Stone Details Proposed New Passageway, [bp], 4/15/1946 (signed);
  • 1 Proposed New Passageway, Textile Gallery & Library, Plans, [bp], 4/5/1946, 7/10/1946 (signed);
  • 2 Proposed New Passageway, Textile Gallery & Library, Elevations & Sections, [bp] 4/5/1946, 7/10/1946;
  • 4 Proposed Passageway Plan (to First Floor) and Elevation; Existing Passageway (to Basement) Plan and Elevation, [bp], 1946;
  • South Elevation at West End, [bp], 1/21/1946 (signed);
  • Control Wiring Diagram, [bl], 4/1/1946, 4/30/1946, 5/1/1946

 

Ca. 1945–1946 Plans by or presumed by Thomas T. Waterman, Washington, D.C.

  • First Floor, [pen and reduced scale bl], no date;
  • Second Floor, [pen], no date;
  • Third Floor, [pen], no date;
  • First Floor Plan, [pencil], no date;

 

Additional Drawings

  • Suggested Moulded Case for Show Case Frames, [pencil], 10/23/1939 [presumed by Thomas T. Waterman, Architect];
  • Preliminary Drawing Case of Antique Paneling, [pencil],12/11/1939 [presumed by Thomas T. Waterman, Architect];
  • Designs for Woodwork of Cases for Great Room, [pencil], 1/3/1940 (initialed T.T.W.);
  • [4 unlabeled drawings for cases], [pencil], no date [presumed by Thomas T. Waterman, Architect];
  • [unlabeled drawing for case], [pencil], no date [presumed by Thomas T. Waterman, Architect];
  • Dumbarton Oaks (Extension to Museum) West Elevation, [pencil], 6/15/1945 (signed by Thomas T. Waterman, Architect);
  • Dumbarton Oaks (Extension to Museum), [pencil], 6/15/1945 (signed by Thomas T. Waterman, Architect);
  • Dumbarton Oaks (Extension to Museum) East Elevation, [pencil], 6/15/1945 (signed by Thomas T. Waterman, Architect);
  • Dumbarton Oaks (Extension to Museum) Plan, [pencil], 6/15/1945 (signed by Thomas T. Waterman, Architect)