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James C. Fernald architectural blueprints
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Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Little documentation is available regarding the life or career of Philadelphia architect James C. Fernald (fl.1884–1929). His name is found in the Philadelphia city directory, where he is listed from 1884–1886 as a carpenter, and after 1887 as an architect. As represented in this collection, most of his projects were relatively small-scale, such as designs for stores or residential structures for individuals. However, other of his works were of public buildings, such as the Congregational Church on Sansom & 61st St., and the Hestonville Ice Manufacturing Plant & skating rink, in Hestonville, PA.
Gopsill's Philadelphia City Directory. Philadelphia: James Gospill, 1873, 1903. Tatman, Sandra L. and Roger W. Moss, eds. Biographical Dictionary of Philadelphia Architects: 1700–1930. Boston: G.K. Hall & Co., 1985.
The collection consists of only seven items, all blueprints of designs for row houses in Philadelphia, including floor plans, elevations, and details. Only one of the plans is dated, to 1906, though the remainder are likely to have been created around the same time. In addition, James Fernald may have had some professional contact with another Philadelphia architect, Charles Edward Rahn (fl.1885–1933). Several of the plans in the collection are for Thomas G. Birmingham and John C. Knox, who were both clients of Rahn, and both architects created designs that were very similar in style.
- F1: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize mapcases
Gift of the Moyerman family, 1973
Processed by Arthur Siegel, April 1998. Encoded by Natalie Baur, March 2010. Further encoding by Lauren Connolly, February 2016 and Tiffany Saulter, May 2016.
Subject
- Publisher
- University of Delaware Library Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
- Finding Aid Date
- 2010 March 23
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec
Collection Inventory
All of these blueprints are for Philadelphia row houses. The clients for only two of the plans have been identified: Thomas G. Birmingham, and John C. Knox (possibly of O'Neill & Knox).
Physical LocationAll of these items are stored in the oversize map drawers.
blueprint; inscribed in upper right "James C. Fernald Architect 5533 Wyalusing Ave., Phila.;" 11 1/2 x 16 3/4"
blueprint; 12 1/2 x 21"
For Thomas G. Birmingham, builder & owner Plans of cellar to third floor, elevations, details blueprint; inscribed at top "James C. Fernald Architect 5533 Wyalusing Ave., Phila.;" 36 x 25 1/2"
Physical Description(2 copies)
For John C. Knox, builder & owner Plans of cellar to second floor, elevations, details, cross-section. blueprint; inscribed at upper right "James C. Fernald Architect 5533 Wyalusing Ave., Phila.;" 34 3/4 x 23 1/4", 35 1/2 x 25"
Physical Description(2 copies)
blueprint; 21 1/2 x 11 1/4"