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Welcome to
the VSA's email newsletter. |
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June/July 2007 |
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The Victorian Society in
America’s
2007 Preservation Awards
The
Board of Directors of the VSA established Preservation Awards and Commendations to be
presented annually for a project or projects of outstanding merit in the
preservation or conservation of Victorian material culture. Nominations
were submitted by the Society’s chapters
or members for significant buildings dated 1837-1917, which had been
partially or completely restored in accordance with local, state, or national
standards of historic preservation. The Awards this year were presented at the closing banquet of the
41st Annual Meeting and Conference of the VSA, which took place in Mobile, AL
on April 28, 2007. The presentations were made by Charles Robertson,
Vice President and Chair of the Preservation Committee.
L-R: Charles Robertson, V.S.A Vice President and Chair,
Preservation Committee; Ruthann Hubbert Kemper, Pennsylvania State Capitol Building For the complete and painstaking restoration over
a 25 year period of this 1906 Beaux Arts National Historic Landmark designed by
Joseph Huston, including the cleaning of its elaborate murals, and for
implementing an ongoing maintenance program to ensure the structure’s future
preservation.
Constructed between 1902 and 1906, this
Beaux Arts masterpiece was intended by its architect, Joseph Huston, as a
“palace of art.” Noted artists were commissioned to execute the
extensive murals and sculpture that decorate the building. Only the
finest materials were used, with chandeliers and decorative furnishings
custom designed for their location. The grand staircase was modeled after
that of the opera in Paris, and the building’s dome after that of St. Peter’s
in Rome. By 1982, however,
the building was swiftly deteriorating, and a 25-year restoration program was
begun to bring the exterior and interior of the structure back to their
original glory. Utility, life-safety and climate control systems were
upgraded throughout the building’s 450,000 square feet. All of the
murals, sculptures and surfaces were cleaned and restored. Based on
extensive historical research and documentation, the painstaking restoration
carefully adhered to the highest standards and can serve as a model for other
states.
For a press release from the Capitol Preservation
Committee website, click here. |
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Leland
Stanford Mansion For the sensitive restoration of the
exterior and interior of this landmark 1872 Second Empire mansion,
complemented by original and period furnishings, which is now open for public
visitation but has also been adapted for use in state receptions.
This home was purchased by Leland Stanford
in 1861 and in 1871-72 was enlarged in the Second Empire Style to reflect his
status as governor of California. Almost tripled in size, the additions
included a billiard room and a vast ballroom and were stylishly furnished.
Visit the Mansion’s
website, by clicking here.
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Union Station For
the rehabilitation of this 1898 Romanesque Revival train station designed by
architect Francis Bacon, and in particular for the reconstruction of its
150-ft. tower and for its adaptive reuse as the visitors’ center for the
Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum.
The magnificent 150-foot clock
tower of this Romanesque Revival building, constructed in 1898, was removed
in 1946 in a program to “modernize” the structure. After disuse as a
train station, the building was converted into a shopping mall and
subsequently fell into disrepair.
For a link to the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library and Museum, click here.
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Sever
Hall at Harvard University Cambridge,
Massachusetts AWARD
For the state-of-the-art exterior
restoration of this Romanesque Revival classroom building constructed in 1880
and designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson.
Sever
Hall was constructed in 1880 in the
Romanesque Revival style and is considered a masterpiece of the noted
American architect Henry Hobson Richardson. Roughly 1.3 million bricks
were used in its construction, approximately 100,000 of which form the
exterior façade. An unusual feature is its 115 panels of carved gauged brick,
each decorated with a different botanical or zoological motif. The
exterior was carefully restored with upgrades to bricks, mortar, brownstone,
roof tiles and wood windows that required a highly exacting process. For a biography of Henry Hobson Richardson, renowned
architect of Sever Hall, click here.
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Union
League of Philadelphia Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
For
the careful exterior restoration of this imposing 1865 Second Empire club and
its 1910 Beaux Arts extension, designed respectively by architects John
Fraser and Horace Trumbauer and still in continuous use for its original
purpose.
The restoration of the Union League
encompassed the exterior not only of the prominent 1865 Second Empire
structure on Broad Street but also the Beaux Arts addition behind it.
You may
visit the home page of the Union League of Philadelphia
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Woodrow
Wilson Birthplace Staunton,
Virginia For the restoration of this 1846
Greek Revival home to its period of significance as
For a link to the Wilson Birthplace, click
here.
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The Victorian Society in America’s
2007 Book Awards
The Victorian Society in
America Book Awards, usually given annually, are presented for books that
best advance an understanding or appreciation of the decorative arts or
architecture of the 19th Century. Three
Book Awards were presented to new books at the V.S.A.’s 41st Annual Meeting
and Conference in Mobile, Alabama, on April 28, 2007. John Simonelli, Executive Vice President, made
the presentations on behalf of the Book Awards Committee. The
Henry-Russell Hitchcock Award named to honor one of the
early presidents of The Society in recognition of his significant
contributions to architectural history.
awarded to
Click on the cover to
purchase the book at Amazon and benefit the V.S.A. |
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The
William E. Fischelis Award named
to honor member, writer, editor of the Society newsletter, & managing
editor of 19th Century magazine, and is given occasionally to an outstanding
book dealing with 19th century art and artists, in recognition of Mr.
Fischelis' great contribution and interest in this field.
awarded to
Click on the cover to
purchase the book at Amazon and benefit the V.S.A. |
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The
Ruth Emery Award named to
honor one of the founders of The Society who was instrumental in forming
awarded to
Click on the
cover to purchase the book at Amazon and benefit the V.S.A. |
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The
2007 President’s Award The President's Award is made periodically at the discretion of the
President
awarded to Gwen Koch "For her long-time
love and support of the Society, especially her warm and endearing dedication to its Summer Schools, having
actively served on its Summer Schools Committee for many years." Presented at the 41st Annual Meeting and
Conference of the V.S.A. |
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The 41st Annual
Meeting of The
Victorian Society in America, in Mobile AL from April 25 - 29, was deemed a considerable
success. With beautiful weather (for the most part), genteel Southern
hospitality at every turn, and plenty to see and do, all reports indicate
that fun was had by all. The history (Mobile has been under the rule of five
different national governments since its founding), architecture, wrought
ironwork, and amazing live oak trees really provided plenty of photo
opportunities. Did you know that Mardi Gras was original to Mobile, not New
Orleans? Here are just three of the many, many
photos that are included on a CD-Rom produced by Bob Chapman, the sale of
which will benefit the Victorian Society Summer Schools. If you would like to
order a CD-Rom, please contact Bob at
bob_chapm@msn.com. As a
source of raising Summer School scholarship funds, the cost of each CD-Rom is
$45.
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For
those of you within easy reach of New York City, the Victorian Society in
America will be collaborating with three other 19th Century-based
non-profits to present the first in what may become a series of programs to
benefit all four organizations. To wit:
"Shared
Dreams: Partnerships of the Arts and Crafts Movement" Lecture by Nancy
L. Green Tuesday, 30 October 2007 6 pm. Reception to follow The Grolier Club 47 East 60th Street New York, NY “Shared Dreams:
Partnerships of the Arts and Crafts Movement” is the $12 reduced rate for members of the sponsoring
organizations; $18 for others. Many of the artists of the Arts and Crafts movement were successful
because of their interaction with a spouse, a sibling, or a close friend.
Historically, it is often this other person that is relegated to a more
obscure role, either due to their gender or the publicly acknowledged
achievements of the more prominent half of the partnership. This lecture
evolves from the research Nancy Green has done for her forthcoming a book on
this subject. About
Nancy Green Nancy Green is senior curator of prints, drawings, and photographs
at the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University. She joined the
Johnson Museum staff in 1985 and during the past twenty-two years she has
organized dozens of exhibitions at the Johnson Museum and elsewhere. Tickets may be purchased from the William Morris Society
in the United States, via the Society’s secure website (PayPal and credit
cards accepted) www.morrissociety.org or by sending a check (please mark the envelope “Green
lecture”) to William Morris Society P.O. Box 53263 Washington, DC 20009 |
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VSA STUDY TRIP, FALL 2007 THE CONNECTICUT
RIVER VALLEY OF MASSACHUSETTS - AMHERST, HOLYOKE,
NORTHAMPTON and SPRINGFIELD AND THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE The Fall Study Tour Brochure
will be coming out in a few short weeks. They will be sent out to all members
via First Class Postage, so everyone should receive theirs in time to allow
for an even shot at signing up. As a reminder, it will be
taking place over the Columbus Day weekend, October 5-8, 2007.
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Member Organizations |
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"Hudson Valley Home Alone - Children Let
Loose at Wilderstein" Through October 28 (Thursday - Sunday) noon - 4:00 PM Special
exhibition that turns history onto its head with a radical reinterpretation
of Victorian upper class life through the eyes of the children who lived at
Wilderstein. The interior of mansion has been creatively re-imagined as
if the adults stepped out and the children were left to run things.
Toys, clothing, books and sporting equipment from the site's collections are
showcased. Visitors will experience sled races, pirate ships, tea
parties, storybooks coming to life and more. |
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Through Sept. 3
Through Oct. 14
3rd Annual Cape May
Designer Show House: The Memucan Hughes House, an 1847 manor
house, with its restored carriage house, beautiful gardens, 11 bedrooms, six
large bathrooms, formal parlors, covered porches, dining room, kitchen, and a
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July
4 – 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Enactors
and live music will bring Harrison Home memories to life. Croquet and other Victorian games will be
available on the south lawn. Special
activities: scavenger hunt for children; re-enactment of Harrison’s July 4,
1888, acceptance speech of his nomination for President of the United States;
refreshing ice cream. A spirited yet
relaxed celebration prior to fireworks.
Costs:
Adults $8; children $4. Check their website for more information and other
events: http://www.presidentbenjaminharrison.org/ |
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