Repository: Dumbarton Oaks Archives, Washington, D.C.
Call Number: Brooke Drawings
Location: Archives 058, A1
Name of Creator(s): Frederick H. Brooke
Title: Frederick H. Brooke Architectural Plans and Drawings
Inclusive Date: ca. 1921–1923
Language(s): English
Quantity: 33 drawings
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information: These plans and drawings came to Dumbarton Oaks at an unknown date.
Processing Information: The Frederick H. Brooke 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: Frederick H. Brooke Architectural Plans and Drawings, Dumbarton Oaks Archives. Courtesy of Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, D.C.
Historical Note
Frederick H. Brooke was a respected Colonial revival architect. He was born on October 9, 1876, in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Yale University and studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, (1901–1902) and at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, (1903–1906). In 1906, he came to Washington, D.C., where he was in practice for forty years. He became a member of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the American Institute of Architects in December, 1916, and was part of the committee that was instrumental in the legislation of 1925 that required the registration of architects in Washington. He was also a member of the Executive Committee of the D.C. Allied Architects and served on the Board of Examiners of and Registrars for local architects for ten years. Brooke designed the Georgian revival buildings of the Virginia Episcopal School and was the local architect of the Lutyens-designed ambassador’s residence at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the designer of its Georgian revival interiors. He also designed additions to the Church of the Epiphany, the fourth-floor addition of the Phillips Collection, the District of Columbia World War Memorial, the remodeling of the Sulgrave Club, and the alterations and additions for the Embassies of Iran and New Zealand and for the Chanceries of the Swedish, Dutch, and New Zealand Embassies. He designed the United States Consulate in Blue Fields, Nicaragua. Brooke received the Washington Board of Trade’s Diploma of Merit in 1932 for his work on the War Memorial. Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss had been social acquaintances of Frederick H. Brooke since at least 1916. In 1921, they engaged him to undertake renovations and additions to the exterior and interior of their new home, which they later named Dumbarton Oaks. Brooke died on December 24, 1960.
Additional architectural plans and drawings for Dumbarton Oaks by Frederick H. Brooke are found in the collection “Robert Woods Bliss House, Washington, D.C.,” McKim, Mead & White Archives, New-York Historical Society, call no. 396. These include:
- East Elevation, [bp], 9/3/1921;
- West Elevation, [bp], 9/3/1921;
- West Elevation—East Wing; East Elevation of Bay in Gallery; East Elevation—West Wing, [bp], 12/22/1922;
- PX-13 Revised Orangerie Cornice Full Scale for Wood Model, [bp], 5/12/1923;
- 269 ½” Detail at Mantel and Chimney Breast in Livingroom, [bp], 9/14/1922;
- 292 Plan of Living Room Ceiling, [bp], 11/28/1922;
- 532-A Rain Conductor Strap Ends Full Size Note—Make Two Pairs of Each Design Shown, [bp], 11/16/1922;
- Orangerie, [bp], 5/31/1922 and 6/27/1922;
- Elevation of Orangerie, [bp], 9/21/1922;
- Second Floor Plan, [bl], 8/25/1921 with revisions to 10/15/1921;
- Basement Plan, [bl], 8/25/1921 with revisions to 10/15/1921;
- South Elevation, [bl], /1921, 11/1/1921 and 12/22/1921;
- East Elevation, [bl], 9/3/1921;
- North Elevation, [bl], 9/3/1921 and 11/1/1921.
Scope and Content
The Frederick H. Brooke architectural plans and drawings comprise material and copies of this material for the renovations and additions to Dumbarton Oaks undertaken between 1921 and 1923.
Extent
33 plans and drawings.
Collection Inventory and Description
Ca. 1921 Exterior Elevations of Dumbarton Oaks before the Frederick H. Brooke Alterations/Additions
- North Elevation of House, [bp], no date;
- South Elevation of House, [bp], no date
Ca. 1921–1922 Exterior Elevations by Frederick H. Brooke, Washington, D.C.
- North Elevation, [pen/ink, bp, mylar, and bl], 9/3/1921, 11/1/1921;
- South Elevation, [mylar and bl (2 copies)], 9/3/1921, 11/1/1921, 12/22/1922;
- East Elevation, [pen/ink, mylar, bl, bp (early state)], 9/3/1921;
- West Elevation, [bp and bl (2 copies)], 9/3/1921;
- West Elevation—East Wing, East Elevation of Bay in Gallery, East Elevation—West Wing, [pen/ink], 12/22/1922;
- South Elevation, [bl], Irwin J. Jueco, 1999, Developed from Base Drawing by F.H. Brooke, Architect [HABS Georgetown Documentation Project, 1999]
Ca. 1921–1923 General Floor Plans and Construction Plans by Frederick H. Brooke, Washington, D.C.
- Basement Floor Plan, [bl and bp (2 separate state copies)], 8/25/1921, 8/29/1921, 9/1/1921, 9/3/1921, 9/8/1921, 9/14/1921, 10/9/1921, 10/15/1921, 10/25/1921, 1/3/1922 (bl has finish date: 8/28/1925);
- Basement Floor Plan, Electrical, [bp], 1/21/1923, 7/2/1923;
- First Floor Plan, [bl], 8/14/1921, 8/21/1921, 9/1/1921, 9/3/1921, 9/10/1921, 9/14/1921, 10/15/1921, 1/3/1922;
- First Floor Plan, [bl (2 copies)], 8/28/1925 [also inscribed: Note—Plumbing and Heating Chases Added After Consultation with R.J. Barrett, July 27, 1926];
- First Floor Plan—Heating, [bp] 2/1922, 5/25/1922;
- First Floor Plan (Heating), [bp], 7/16/1923;
- Second Floor Plan, [pen/ink, bl], 8/25/1921, 9/1/1921, 9/3/1921, 9/10/1921, 9/14/1921, 10/15/1921, 12/6/1921, 1/3/1922;
- Second Floor Plan, [mylar and bl (2 copies)], no date;
- Second Floor Plan Electrical, [bp], 1/21/1923, 7/2/1923;
- Second Floor Plan (Heating), [bp], 2/1922;
- Second Floor Plan Heating, [bp], 7/16/1923;
- Third Floor Plan, [bl], 10/15/1921, 12/6/1921, 1/3/1922;
- First Floor Plan, [bl], Irwin J. Jueco, 1999, Developed from Base Drawing by F.H. Brooke, Architect [HABS Georgetown Documentation Project, 1999]
Ca. 1922–1923 Elevation for Former Den (now Financial Office) by Frederick H. Brooke, Washington, D.C.
- Interior Details of Den, [bl], revision 7/6/1922;
- Den, [bp], 10/1/1922 and 5/16/1923
Ca. 1922–1923 Plan and Sections of Former Boudoir (now Financial Office) by Frederick H. Brooke, Washington, D.C.
- Boudoir, [bp], 10/31/1922 and 5/16/1923
Ca. 1922–1923 Plan and Elevations for Former Chamber No. 4 (now Financial Office) by Frederick H. Brooke, Washington, D.C.
- Chamber No. 4, [bp], 10/19/1922 and 5/14/1923
Ca. 1922–1923 Plan for Gymnasium (now Archives) by Frederick H. Brooke, Washington, D.C.
- Gymnasium, [bl], 11/22/1922 and 2/5/1923
1922 Elevations for Basement Walls by Frederick H. Brooke, Washington, D.C.
- Unlabeled elevations for basement, [bp], 10/14/1922 and 12/26/1922
Ca. 1922–1924 Plans for Bath House and Loggia by Frederick H. Brooke, Washington, D.C.
- Bath House and Loggia at Pool, [bp], 6/24/1922, 7/20/1922, 8/26/1922 and 11/13/1922;
- Steps to Tool Room, Loggia, [bp], no date;
- Details of Step at East Entrance to Bath House, [bp], 8/28/1923 and 1/31/1924
1922 Plans and Sections for Orangery and for Service and Connecting Area to Orangery by Frederick H. Brooke, Washington, D.C.
- Untitled [partly inscribed with room names: First Floor East Hall, Toilet, Passageway and Kitchenette; also inscribed: Section Through Library Door], [pen/ink], 7/4/1922, 10/19/1922, 10/30/1922;
- Plan of Orangery, [bp], 12/13/1922;
- Stone Steps and Facing, East Door, Orangery, [bp], 3/26/1923