Cass Gilbert Society

Learning Resources

Publications & Collections

Please note that links listed below are maintained by other organizations. Clicking on a link will direct you outside the Cass Gilbert Society Website. Please be aware that we cannot control or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this outside information.

Blodgett-1979

Geoffrey Blodgett. "Oberlin College Architecture: A Short History." This online guide is an updated excerpt from his article which appeared in the Oberlin Alumni Magazine (May/June 1979). http://www.oberlin.edu/external/EOG/gbslides/AShortHistory.html

Blodgett-1985

Geoffrey Blodgett. Oberlin Architecture, College and Town: A Guide to its Social History (Kent State University Press, Kent, Ohio, 1985). Blodgett's guide to the architecture of Oberlin College is the definitive work on the subject.

Blodgett-1985-b

Geoffrey Blodgett. “Cass Gilbert, Architect: Conservative at Bay.” Journal of American History 72 no. 3 (December 1985): pp 615-636. An interesting perspective on Gilbert’s career from a long-time Oberlin historian. This journal is available through JSTOR. http://www.jstor.org/

Blodgett-2000

Geoffrey Blodgett. “Cass Gilbert and Julia Finch: Falling in Love in the 1880s.” Minnesota History 57 (Spring 2000): 38-50. A biographical snapshot placed in historical context. http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/57/v57i01p038-050.pdf (PDF)

Blodgett-2001

Geoffrey Blodgett. Cass Gilbert: The Early Years (Saint Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2001). A highly readable account of Gilbert’s life and career before his move to New York.

Christen-1997

Barbara Snowden Christen. “Cass Gilbert and the Ideal of the City Beautiful: City and Campus Plans, 1900 to 1916.” (Ph.D. diss., City University of New York, 1997). Discussion of Gilbert’s plans for New Haven and Waterbury, Connecticut, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Texas, among others. Unbound copies of dissertations can be ordered online through ProQuest dissertation express for $41.00: www.proquest.com/products_umi/dissertations/disexpress.shtml

Christen-2001

Barbara Christen and Steven Flanders, eds. Cass Gilbert Life and Work: Architect of the Public Domain (New York: W. W. Norton, 2001). The most comprehensive assessment to date of Gilbert’s career from a variety of perspectives. Essays by nineteen authors, expanded from presentations at a symposium held in New York City in November 1998.

Christen-2009

Barbara S. Christen. “Patronage, Politics and Civic Identity: The Development of Cincinnati’s Union Central Life Insurance Company Building.” Ohio Valley History 9 no. 2 (Summer 2009): 54-77.

Coles-1973

William A. Coles. “The History of America’s Greatest Fountain: The Scott Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle, Detroit.” Classical America 3 (1973): 5-26.

Dean-2006

Patty Dean. "Unique and Handsome': Cass Gilbert's Designs for the Montana Club." Drumlummon Views. (Spring-Summer 2006): 158-176. Patty Dean’s article on Cass Gilbert’s Montana Club, available online in the Drumlummon Views http://www.drumlummon.org/images/PDF-Spr-Sum06/DV_1-2_Dean.pdf, is also available in a handsomely illustrated offprint available for $6.50 through the Drumlummon Institute, www.drumlummon.org/html/Unique-Handsome.html.

Dolkart-2004

Andrew Dolkart, Matthew A. Postal. Guide to New York City Landmarks. (New York: New York City Landmarks Preservation Foundation and John Wiley & Sons, 2004)

Dong-2008

Lorrie Dong. "Battle Hall Project." (University of Texas at Austin. 2008). Graduate student Lorrie Dong assembled a compendium of Battle Hall-related documents, including scans of original drawings from the University's archives. Description: http://lib.utexas.edu/apl/about/battle_hall; Timeline: http://lib.utexas.edu/apl/about/battle_hall/timeline; Collection of Drawings: http://lib.utexas.edu/apl/about/battle_hall/drawings

Eckert-1993

Kathryn B. Eckert. Buildings of Michigan (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993).

Fenske-1988

Gail Fenske. “The ‘Skyscraper Problem’ and the City Beautiful: The Woolworth Building.” (Ph.D. diss., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1988). A scholarly and contextual assessment of Gilbert’s most famous building.

Fenske-2008

Gail Fenske. The Skyscraper and the City: The Woolworth Building and the Making of Modern New York (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008). This expands and refines the content and analysis of Fenske’s Ph.D. dissertation.

Glewwe-1987

Lois A. Glewwe, ed. South St. Paul Centennial 1887-1987: The History of South St. Paul, Minnesota (South St. Paul Area Chapter, Dakota County Historical Society, 1987).

Goff-2007

Nadine Goff. "Central High Arch Gets Tuneup: The Remnant of the Bygone School Has Deep Nostalgic Significance for Alumni." State Journal, October 31, 2007. http://host.madison.com/news/article_b15db7bc-a99e-59eb-ab0e-71a402519368.html

Heilbrun-2000

Margaret Heilbrun, ed. Inventing the Skyline: The Architecture of Cass Gilbert (New York: New-York Historical Society and Columbia University Press, 2000). A beautifully illustrated collection of essays, published in conjunction with an exhibit of Gilbert’s work at the New-York Historical Society.

Hess-2006

Jeffrey A. Hess and Paul Clifford Larson. St. Paul’s Architecture: A History (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2006).

Hitchcock-Seale-1976

Henry-Russell Hitchcock and William Seale. Temples of Democracy: State Capitols of the U.S.A. (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1976).

Irish-1989

Sharon Irish. "A ‘Machine That Makes the Land Pay’: The West Street Building in New York." Technology and Culture 30 (April 1989): 376-397. Available at JSTOR.

Irish-1993

Sharon Irish. “West Hails East: Cass Gilbert in Minnesota.” Minnesota History 53 (Spring 1993): 196-207. A good assessment of Gilbert’s Minnesota career. http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/53/v53i05p196-207.pdf (PDF)

Irish-1999

Sharon Irish. Cass Gilbert Architect: Modern Traditionalist (New York: Monacelli Press, 1999). The first published monograph on Gilbert and his work.

Jones-1982

Robert A. Jones. Cass Gilbert: Midwestern Architect in New York (New York: Arno Press, 1982). Reprint of Jones’s Ph.D. diss., Case Western Reserve University, 1976.

Larson-2002

Paul Clifford Larson. Cass Gilbert Abroad: The Young Architect’s European Tour (Afton, Minn.: Afton Press, 2002). Letters and sketches from Gilbert’s first European tour.

Lindley-1999

John M. Lindley. “Crawford Livingston, Colonel Chauncey W. Griggs and Their Roles in St. Paul History.” Ramsey County History 34 no. 3 (Fall 1999): 4-27

LOC-CGP

Library of Congress. "Cass Gilbert Papers, 1841-1961." The LOC has over 9,000 items available in the Manuscript Reading Room. Online finding aid: http://lccn.loc.gov/mm73022780

Lochbiler-1997

Don Lochbiler. "Detroit's Fountain of Mirth." (The Detroit News November 7, 1997) http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=193

LOC-Ives-Library

Library of Congress. Photos and Data pages for Ives Memorial Library http://loc.gov/pictures/item/ct0440/.

LOC-Seligman

Library of Congress. Photos and Data pages for A. J. Seligman House http://loc.gov/pictures/item/mt0024/.

LOC-WV-Capitol

Library of Congress. Photos and Data pages for West Virginia Capitol http://loc.gov/pictures/item/wv0104/.

Millett-1992

Larry Millett. Lost Twin Cities (Saint Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1992).

Millett-2007

Larry Millett. AIA Guide to the Twin Cities (Saint Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2007).

MN-Capitol-Records

Minnesota Board of State Capitol Commissioners. "An Inventory of Its Records. 1892-1914." Records pertaining to the construction of the Minnesota State Capitol Building are contained in 13 boxes, 4 oversize folders, and 7 oversize sheets in 1 roll, available at the Minnesota Historical Society. The detailed finding aid is available at http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/sccb.pdf (PDF)

MNHS-CGP

Minnesota Historical Society. "Cass Gilbert Papers." MNHS has 23 boxes, and 2 unboxed oversize folders from the St. Paul offices of Cass Gilbert, dating from 1882 to 1934 (most from 1882 to 1910). 28351?func=full-set-set&set_number=336778&set_entry=000006&format=999

MNHS-Review-1974

“Book Review.” Minnesota History 44 (Fall 1974): 115. A book review by the Minnesota Historical Society of Minnesota's State Capitol: The Art and Politics of a Public Building by Neil B. Thompson. http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/44/v44i03p115-121.pdf (PDF)

MNHS-Review-2002

“Book Review.” Minnesota History 58 (Winter 2002-03): 241-242. A book review by the Minnesota Historical Society of two of the most important published works on Cass Gilbert, Geoffrey Blodgett's Cass Gilbert: The Early Years and Cass Gilbert Life and Work: Architect of the Public Domain, edited by Barbara S. Christen and Steven Flanders. http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/58/v58i04p241-248.pdf (PDF)

Morgan-1972

William Towner Morgan. “The Politics of Business in the Career of an American Architect: Cass Gilbert, 1878 to 1905.” (Ph.D. diss., University of Minnesota, 1972). The first dissertation written on Cass Gilbert. It focuses on his Minnesota and early New York work

Morgan-1999

Samuel H. Morgan. “Timber. Steel, Law, and Politics: St. Paul’s Pioneering Attorneys and Their More Interesting Cases.” Ramsey County History 33 no. 4 (Winter 1999): 4-13.

MTHS-CGP

Montana Historical Society. "Guide to the Cass Gilbert Papers, 1902-1910." Finding Aid. "Cass Gilbert" search

Murphy-1979

Patricia A. Murphy. “The Early Career of Cass Gilbert, 1879 to 1895.” (M.A. Thesis, University of Virginia, 1979). A pioneering scholarly work on Gilbert’s early career.

NRHP-Battle-Hall-1970

National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form for Battle Hall, South Mall, University of Texas campus 1970 Text: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/70000763.pdf (PDF), Photos: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Photos/70000763.pdf (PDF). NOTE: As of 8/2010, this record had not yet been digitized.

NRHP-Fargo-NPRS-1975

National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form for Fargo Northern Pacific Railroad Station (1975) Text: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/75001304.pdf (PDF), Photos: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Photos/75001304.pdf (PDF).

NRHP-Keeler-Tavern-1982

National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form for Keeler Tavern (Cannonball House) (1982) Text: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/82004345.pdf (PDF), Photos: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Photos/82004345.pdf (PDF).

NRHP-NHRS-1975

National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form for New Haven Railroad Station (1975) Text: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/75001941.pdf (PDF), Photos: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Photos/75001941.pdf (PDF).

NRHP-NY-Life-1977

National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form for New York Life Insurance Co. Building (2000); Text: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/78001876.pdf (PDF), Photos: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/78001876.pdf (PDF)

NRHP-Seaside-1995

National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form for The Seaside (1995); Text: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/95001007.pdf (PDF), Photos: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Photos/95001007.pdf (PDF).

NRHP-Severance-Res-1976

National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Summary for Cordenio Severance House (Cedarhurst) (1976): http://nrhp.mnhs.org/NRDetails.cfm?NPSNum=76001077

NRHP-Waterbury-Complex-1978

National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form for Waterbury Municipal Center Complex, including City Hall and Chase Brass and Copper Building (1978); Text: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/78002882.pdf (PDF), Photos: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Photos/78002882.pdf (PDF).

NRHP-Woolworth-1978

National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Form for the Woolworth Building (1978); Text: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/66000554.pdf (PDF), Photos: http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/66000554.pdf] (PDF).

NRHP-WV-Capitol-1974

National Register of Historic Places, Nomination Summary for West Virginia Capitol Complex (1974): http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/nr/pdf/kanawha/74002009.pdf (PDF)

NWAA-CGC

Northwest Architectural Archives, Manuscripts Division. "Cass Gilbert Collection." Collection contains studies of the University of Minnesota campus plans and plans for the Roselawn Cemetery. The collection is located at 213 Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota, 222 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Finding aid: http://special.lib.umn.edu/findaid/xml/naa015.xml.

NYC-Landmarks-1975

New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. United States Courthouse (LP-0883). (New York: City of New York, 1975). Available at http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/US-COURTHOUSE.pdf (PDF)

NYC-Landmarks-1983a

New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Woolworth Building (LP-1273) (New York: City of New York, 1983). Report available at: http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/83-WOOLWORTH-EXT.pdf (PDF)

NYC-Landmarks-1983b

New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Woolworth Building, First Floor Interior (LP-1274) (New York: City of New York, 1983). Report available at: http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/Woolworth-Building.pdf (PDF)

NYC-Landmarks-1992

New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Broadway Chambers Building (LP-1753) (New York: City of New York, 1992) Report available at: http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/1992BroadwayChambersBldg.pdf (PDF)

NYC-Landmarks-1998

New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.West Street Building (LP-1984) (New York: City of New York, 1998). Report available at: http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/1998WestStreetBuilding.pdf (PDF)

NYC-Landmarks-2000

New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. New York Life Insurance Company Building. (LP-2067) (New York: City of New York, 2000). Report available at: http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/2000NewYorkLifeInsCoBldg.pdf (PDF)

NYHS-CGC

New York Historical Society. "Cass Gilbert Collection." The NYHS has 380 linear feet of items available to qualified researchers. Online information about the collection: Cass Gilbert Collection. Finding Aid: CGC Finding Aid. Architectural Drawings: CG Drawings

NY-Times-1906

The New York Times "Woman's Gift To New Haven" (Oct. 30, 1906) http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=950DE3D9173EE733A25753C3A9669D946797D6CF

Oberlin-AMAM-Guide

"Allen Memorial Art Museum Teacher Resource Packet – AMAM 1917 Building." Oberlin College has prepared a Teacher Resource Packet on the the Allen Memorial Art Museum. The packet is essentially an essay containing valuable photos and thoughtful research on the building. http://oberlin.edu/amam/documents/AMAMGilbertBuilding_TeacherResourcePacket.pdf (PDF)

Oberlin-Archives-Art-Museum

Oberlin College. Campus Photoguide: Dudley Peter Allen Memorial Art Building. http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/resources/photoguide/allen_art.html

Oberlin-Archives-Cass-Gilbert

Oberlin College Archives. Cass Gilbert Papers, 1903-1982." Oberlin College has a collection of papers related to Cass Gilbert's designs for the college. http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/holdings/finding/RG30/SG124/index.html

Oberlin-Archives-Cox-Bldg

Oberlin College. Campus Photoguide: Jacob Dolson Cox Administration Building. http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/resources/photoguide/cox.html

Oberlin-Archives-Finney

Oberlin College. Campus Photoguide: Finney Memorial Chapel. http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/resources/photoguide/finney_chapel.html

Oberlin-Archives-Hospital

Oberlin College. Campus Photoguide: Allen Memorial Hospital. http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/resources/photoguide/allen_hospital.html

Oberlin-Archives-Theol-Quad

Oberlin College. Campus Photoguide: Theological Quadrangle. http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/resources/photoguide/theological_quadrangle.html

Omaha-1898-Expo-Illus

Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition, Omaha, June to November 1898: Illustrating the Progress of the West (Omaha, Nebraska, 1898)

OPL-1898-Expo

Omaha Public Libray. "Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition" (Digital Collections, 1989). http://digital.omahapubliclibrary.org/transmiss/buildings/agriculture.html. The F.A. Rinehart Photograph Collection contains stunning images of the temporary exposition. http://digital.omahapubliclibrary.org/transmiss/research/subjhtml/gcag01.html

OSullivan-1994

Thomas O’Sullivan. North Star Statehouse: An Armchair Guide to the Minnesota State Capitol (Saint Paul: Pogo Press, 1994). This book focuses on the artworks found in the State Capitol.

Peterson-2003

Jess R. Peterson. Omaha’s Trans-Mississippi Exposition (Mount Pleasant, S.C.: Arcadia Publishing, 2003)

Rogers-1932

James Grafton Rogers. “Cordenio Arnold Severance" American Bar Leaders” (American Bar Association, 1932). http://www.minnesotalegalhistoryproject.org/assets/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20Rogers%20on%20Severance.pdf (PDF)

Sandeen-2004

Ernest R. Sandeen. St. Paul’s Historic Summit Avenue (1974. Reprint, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2004).

Scott-Lee-1993

Pamela Scott and Antoinette Lee. Buildings of the United States: Buildings of the District of Columbia (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993).

Thompson-2004

Neil B. Thompson. Minnesota's State Capitol: The Art and Politics of a Public Building (1974. New edition, Saint Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2004).

Utexas-Campus-Plan

University of Texas. "A Summary of Campus Planning." A reproduction of an early sketch for the Library building is on page four. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/books/campusmasterplan/pdf/masterplan-3-spd.pdf (PDF)

White-1998

Samuel G. White. The Houses of McKim, Mead & White (New York: Rizzoli, 1998).