Sticks and Stones · Chapter
Architectural History explained
This chapter surveys the historiography of American architecture, noting the post-Civil War reappreciation of colonial architecture and the evolution from uncritical early works to more rigorous studies by Isham and Brown, Cousins and Riley
What happens
This chapter surveys the historiography of American architecture, noting the post-Civil War reappreciation of colonial architecture and the evolution from uncritical early works to more rigorous studies by Isham and Brown, Cousins and Riley, and Fiske Kimball. It highlights the gap in architectural histories beyond the early republican period and points to supplementary sources such as John Bullock's 'The American Cottage Builder', F. R. Vogel's 'Das Amerikanische Haus', and a collection by Russell Sturgis, J. W. Root, and others.
Themes in this chapter
Craftsmanship vs. Mechanization
The chapter's focus on pre-industrial architecture and the careful study of early colonial buildings underscores a concern with craftsmanship and the historical record of hand-built structures.
Economic and Social Foundations of Art
The mention of works like 'The American Cottage Builder' and regional studies (e.g., the Lebanon Valley) ties architectural history to economic and social conditions.
Characters to notice
- Fiske Kimball
Mr. Fiske Kimball's compendious study of the Domestic Architecture of the Colonies and the Early Republic is cited as a key source bringing together authenticated data.
- John Wellborn Root
J. W. Root is mentioned as a co-author of 'Homes in City and Country', a supplementary source for later architectural history.
Key passages
“Ever since colonial architecture was reappreciated after the Civil War, a large amount of material has appeared on the early architecture of the colonies.”
Following the Civil War, colonial architecture gained renewed appreciation, leading to a wealth of publications on early colonial buildings.
Sets the historical context for the chapter's review of architectural historiography.
“Beyond the early republican period, our architectural histories come to an end.”
Architectural histories in America largely stop covering the period after the early republic.
Highlights a gap in the historical record that the chapter seeks to address through supplementary sources.