Architects of the Capitol: Selected Biographical Information

Order Code RS22730

September 25, 2007

Architects of the Capitol: Selected

Biographical Information

Mildred Amer

Specialist on the Congress

Government and Finance Division

Summary

Prior to 1989, the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) was appointed by the President

for an unlimited term without any direct action by the Senate. A provision in the

FY1990 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (P.L. 101-163) altered this selection

procedure, requiring the President to nominate the AOC for a 10-year term, subject to

the advice and consent of the Senate. Presently, a search is underway for a new

Architect to replace Alan Hantman, FAIA, who left office on February 4, 2007. For

additional information, please refer to CRS Report RL32820, Architect of the Capitol:

Appointment, Duties, and Operations, by Mildred Amer.

With the enactment of P.L. 101-163, 103 Stat. 1068, the AOC is now required to be

appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a 10-year term.

Previous Architects were appointed by the President, without mandated congressional

participation, for an unspecified term. The 1989 act also created a bicameral congressional

advisory commission to recommend to the President at least three candidates for the AOC

post.1

The retirement of Alan Hantman, FAIA, the AOC from 1997-2007, set in motion the

search for his replacement. Press accounts have indicated that the search process has

begun, but no formal announcements have been made.2 Published accounts have also

indicated individuals in and out of Congress have urged that only a licensed architect

1

The advisory commission is composed of the Speaker of the House, the President pro tempore

of the Senate, and the majority and minority leaders of both houses, as well as the chairs and

ranking members of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Committee on House

Administration, and House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. The Appropriations

Committee members were added to the commission in 1995 by P.L. 104-19, 109 Stat. 220.

2

John McArdle, “Finalist for AOC’s Top Job Delivered to President Bush,” Roll Call, Aug. 13,

2007, pp. 3, 35.

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should serve in the position, or someone who is not only a licensed architect but also has

a strong construction management background.3

The ten previous Architects came from varied backgrounds.4 Some had formal

architectural training, others did not. According to the American Institute of Architects

(AIA), prior to 1857, anyone who wished to call himself or herself an architect could do

so.5 No schools of architecture or architectural licensing laws existed to shape the

profession. For example, William Thornton, Benjamin Latrobe, and Charles Bulfinch

served as Architects of the Capitol during an era when the profession of “architect” was

undefined. Modern observers would most likely consider them to have been architects.

Accordingly, this report describes the backgrounds of the 10 previous Architects of

the Capitol, seven of whom would appear to have been considered to be architects.

William Thornton (1793), the first so-called Architect of the Capitol, was trained

as a physician, but rarely practiced his profession. He was a self-taught architect, who

studied drawing and mechanics.6 He won the competition for the design of the U.S.

Capitol in 1793.

Benjamin Latrobe (1803-1811, 1815-1817) studied engineering and later worked

in the London office of an architect before coming to the United States, where he was

considered the country’s first professional architect and engineer.7

Charles Bulfinch (1818-1829) was among the first American-born architects and

was self-trained through books and a European tour arranged by Thomas Jefferson.8

Thomas Walter (1851-1865) studied masonry, mathematics, physical science, and

the fine arts before studying in the office of Philadelphia architect William Strickland.

3

John McArdle, “AIA Critical of Architect Search Process,” Roll Call, May 15, 2007, pp. 3, 22;

Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Phil English, “Architect Should be Selected for AOC Position”

(editorial), Roll Call, June 5, 2007, p. 4; and John McArdle, “More Problems Prompt Effort to

Revamp AOC,” Roll Call, Aug. 2, 2007, pp. 3, 24.

4

The term Architect of the Capitol also refers to some of the early occupants of the office who

were also known as Commissioner, Surveyor of Public Buildings, or Superintendent of the

Capitol. For more information, see William Allen, History of the United States Capitol

(Washington: GPO, 2001), pp. 27, 50-51, 398, and 400-401.

5

American Institute of Architects, “History of the American Institute of Architects,”

[http://www.aia.org/about2_template.cfm?pagename=about_history], visited May 31, 2007.

6

Architect of the Capitol, “The Architects of the Capitol Since 1793,” [http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/

architects/thornton.cfm], visited May 28, 2007, and Allen, History of the United States Capitol,

pp. 20-27.

7

Architect of the Capitol, “The Architects of the Capitol Since 1793,” [http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/

architects/latrobe.cfm].

8

Allen, History of the United States Capitol, p. 126, and Architect of the Capitol, “The Architects

of the Capitol Since 1793,” [http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/bulfinch.cfm].

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Walter began practicing architecture in 1830 and was one of the founders of the American

Institute of Architects in 1857.9

Edward Clark (1865-1902) was a student of and an assistant to his predecessor,

Thomas Walter, and studied freehand, engineering, and mechanical drawing. Clark, “one

of the most prominent members of his profession,” was a fellow at the AIA.10 In his

book, History of the Unites States Capitol, historian William C. Allen described Clark as

“being more comfortable attending to administrative details than solving design

challenges, which were left to hired consultants.”11

Elliott Woods (1902-1923) was not an architect by training, but he had worked in

the office of his predecessor for 17 years and had worked as the architect on several public

buildings in Washington.12 Known for his work in X-ray, radio, and telegraphy, Woods

was an honorary member of the AIA.13 This distinction, earned because of his many

successful architectural projects,14 ended the “ill will that once existed between the

superintendent [architect] and the Institute,” which had tried to influence the appointment

of someone other than Woods to the architect position when it was vacant in 1902.15

David Lynn (1923-1954) was also an honorary member of AIA. He had worked in

the office of the Architect of the Capitol for 20 years and had begun his career as a

laborer. He worked his way to the top in various other jobs such as a cleaning staff

foreman, watchman, and civil engineer before becoming the assistant to his predecessor,

Elliott Woods.16

J. George Stewart (1954-1970) was a civil engineer and a former Member of the

House from Delaware. He was a professional engineer and the president of a general

construction company.17

9

Architect of the Capitol, “The Architects of the Capitol Since 1793,” [http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/

architects/walter.cfm].

10

“Edward Clark Dead,” The Washington Post, Jan. 7, 1902, p. 10, and “Chapter Notes, The

American Institute of Architects Quarterly Bulletin, vol. 3, April 1902, pp 17-18. Only those

individuals who are professional architects can be fellows and members of the AIA.

11

Allen, History of the United States Capitol, p. 338.

12

Architect of the Capitol, “The Architects of the Capitol Since 1793,” [http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/

architects/woods.cfm].

13

Allen, History of the United States Capitol, p. 398, and U.S. Congress, Joint Committee on

Printing, The Capitol, H. Doc. 96-374, 96th Cong., 2nd sess. (Washington: GPO, 1981), p. 58.

14

In a May 25, 2007, telephone conversation, Michelle Jones, a resource manager at the AIA,

explained that the honorary title is given in recognition of the architectural accomplishments of

individuals who are not architects.

15

Allen, History of the United States Capitol, pp. 376-377, 398. At that time, the Architect of

the Capitol was known at the Superintendent of the Capitol until the old title, Architect of the

Capitol, was restored in 1921.

16

Ibid, p. 399.

17

Architect of the Capitol, “The Architects of the Capitol Since 1793,” [http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/

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George White (1971-1995) holds degrees in electrical engineering, business, and

law. He is a registered architect and engineer as well as a Fellow of the AIA.18

Alan Hantman (1997-2007) has degrees in architecture and urban planning, and is

also a Fellow of the AIA.19 His name was on a list of “suitable” candidates provided by

the AIA to replace George White when White retired in 1995.20

In summary, seven of the 10 men, prior to their appointment as Architect of the

Capitol, would appear to have been either considered an architect prior to the formal

definition of the field as a profession, or formally trained as architects once the profession

was defined. Two others among the 10 men — Woods and Lynn — were honorary

members of the American Institute of Architects. The “honorary” distinction would

appear to indicate a judgment by the AIA that the two were not initially trained as

architects. Another of the ten men — Stewart — appears to have been trained as a civil

engineer.

17

(...continued)

achitects/stewart.cfm].

18

Architect of the Capitol, “The Architects of the Capitol Since 1793,”

[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/white.cfm], and Allen, History of the United States Capitol,

p. 440.

19

Architect of the Capitol, “The Architects of the Capitol Since 1793,” [http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/

architects/hantman.cfm], visited May 29, 2007, and Allen, History of the United States Capitol,

p. 460.

20

Allen, History of the United States Capitol, p. 460.