Robert W. Gibson

Robert Williams Gibson
Robert W. Gibson, circa 1899
Born(1854-11-17)November 17, 1854
Aveley, Essex, England
DiedMarch 17, 1927(1927-03-17) (aged 72)
Woodbury, New York
NationalityEnglish-American
OccupationArchitect
PracticeGibson & Pretyman; Robert W. Gibson
BuildingsCathedral of All Saints, Albany, New York; Church Missions House, New York City; Branford House, Groton, Connecticut; Soo Line Building, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Robert W. Gibson, AIA, (1854 in England – 1927 in New York City) was an English-born American ecclesiastical architect active in late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century New York state. He designed several large Manhattan churches and a number of prominent residences and institutional buildings.

Life and career

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Robert Williams Gibson was born November 17, 1854, in Aveley, Essex, England, to Samuel Lodwick Gibson and Eliza (Williams) Gibson. In 1875 he entered the architectural school of the Royal Academy of Arts in London, graduating in 1879. Having been awarded a traveling scholarship, he spent the next two years traveling in Europe. He immigrated to the United States in 1881, initially settling in Albany, New York.[1] For his first four years in the United States he worked in partnership with William Pretyman, a decorator and designer, as Gibson & Pretyman. This partnership was dissolved in 1884, after which he worked independently for the rest of his career.

The dissolution of Gibson's partnership coincided with the start of construction of the new Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, having won a competition the previous year.[2] A project of Bishop William Croswell Doane, the building was the first American Episcopal cathedral to be conceived on the scale of its European counterparts. The cathedral was to be built in phases, the first of which was completed in 1888. At that time the whole of the building was built only to a height of forty feet, with a temporary roof. All unnecessary exterior ornament was omitted. Gibson supervised a second phase beginning in 1902, and the choir and sanctuary were completed to their full height in 1904. A chapter house was also constructed at this time. Although further work was planned, the construction of the neighboring New York State Education Building and Doane's death prevented any additional construction work, and the cathedral is permanently incomplete.[3]

In 1888, having completed the first phase of the cathedral and having been commissioned to design a bank for the United States Trust Company in New York, Gibson relocated to that city.[4] From these two projects Gibson developed specialties in both of these building types, and they were a mainstay of his practice for almost thirty years. Gibson practiced architecture in New York until at least 1915, apparently retiring afterward.

After winning the Albany competition, Gibson entered, but did not win, at least three more design competitions for major churches. His entry into the 1889 competition to design the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York drew from a variety of sources, with an overall effect of the Decorated period of English Gothic architecture.[5] In 1902 he entered the preliminary competition to design the Liverpool Cathedral, but nothing is known of his proposal.[6] Lastly, in 1906 he entered the competition to design the new St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York. Unlike his competitors, who proposed linear plans with entrances on Fifth Avenue, Gibson designed a building with a semicircular plan facing 53rd Street. His facade was based on the West Front of Peterborough Cathedral, with possible influences from Ely as well.[7] Other competitions entered included the New York Stock Exchange Building and Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, which was won by Cass Gilbert. Several competitors, including Gibson, alleged that Gilbert had conspired with Supervising Architect of the Treasury James Knox Taylor, his former business partner, to be awarded the commission.[8]

Gibson joined the American Institute of Architects in 1885 as a fellow.[9] He was a member of the AIA Board of Directors, and served two terms as president of the Architectural League of New York.[1]

Personal life

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Gibson became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1887.[1] After moving to New York, he married Caroline Hammond in 1890. They had four children: Robert Hammond Gibson, Lydia Gibson, Katherine (Gibson) Van Cortlandt and Hester (Gibson) Huntington. His son, R. Hammond Gibson, was a naval historian. Lydia, his eldest daughter, was an artist who would become a noted Socialist activist and was married to Communist leader Robert Minor. Hester, the youngest, was less public with her politics but was involved in the work of the International Labor Defense and made the news in 1939 when she bailed out jailed Communist leader Earl Browder.[10]

Gibson was a member of the Century Association and the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club.[1]

In 1923, in retirement, Gibson published The Morality of Nature, a philosophical work. He died August 17, 1927, at his home in Woodbury, New York.[11]

Legacy

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At least eleven of Gibson's works have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, with others contributing to listed historic districts. Six more are designated New York City Landmarks.

Architectural works

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Albany Rural Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
  2. ^ Oakwood Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
  3. ^ A contributing property to the Lafayette Park Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
  4. ^ A contributing property to the Washington Park Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
  5. ^ A contributing property to the Downtown Albany Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
  6. ^ A contributing property to the Sailors' Snug Harbor historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
  7. ^ A contributing property to the Downtown Ossining Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
  8. ^ Designed in association with Edward J. Neville Stent.
  9. ^ A contributing property to the Southside Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
  10. ^ A contributing property to the Downtown Norwich Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
  11. ^ A contributing property to the Hanover Square Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
  12. ^ A contributing property to the Downtown Genesee Street Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
  13. ^ Construction was supervised by architect Charles E. Hartge of Raleigh. A contributing property to the Capitol Area Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
  14. ^ The cathedra was designed by Gibson from stones from Glastonbury Abbey gifted to the Episcopal Diocese of Washington by Stanley Austin, then-owner of the Abbey ruins.[39] It was originally placed in the Little Sanctuary, now part of St. Albans School, before being moved into the cathedral proper.
  15. ^ A contributing property to the Lower Genesee Street Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
  16. ^ Construction was supervised by architect Edward Kennedy of Minneapolis.[47]
  17. ^ Designed in association with Francis G. Stewart. A contributing property to the Princeton Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
  18. ^ Construction was supervised by architects Hewitt & Brown of Minneapolis.

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Robert W. Gibson.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Gibson, Robert Williams" in The National Cyclopedia of American Biography 11 (New York: James T. White & Company, 1909): 324.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Cornelia Brooke Gilder, "Robert W. Gibson" in Architects in Albany, ed. Diana S. Waite (Albany: Mount Ida Press, 2009): 38-39.
  3. ^ a b Albany Architecture, ed. Diana S. Waite (Albany: Mount Ida Press, 1993): 83-84.
  4. ^ "Out Among the Builders," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 41, no. 1043 (March 10, 1888): 302.
  5. ^ "Illustrations," American Architect and Building News 26, no. 721 (October 19, 1889): 182-183.
  6. ^ "The Liverpool Cathedral Competition," American Architect and Building News 77, no. 1392 (August 30, 1902): 66.
  7. ^ "Current Periodicals," Architectural Review 8, no. 6 (June 1906): 90-91.
  8. ^ "The Custom House Plans," New York Times, November 2, 1899, 2.
  9. ^ "Robert W. Gibson (1854-1927)." aiahistoricaldirectory.atlassian.net. AIA Historical Directory of American Architects, n. d. Accessed November 12, 2021.
  10. ^ "Gibson Girl," Time 34, no. 19 (November 6, 1939): 19.
  11. ^ "Robert W. Gibson, Architect, Dies," New York Times, August 19, 1927, 17.
  12. ^ a b Diana S. Waite, The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2019)
  13. ^ "Buildings Projected," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 35, no. 894 (May 2 1885): 513.
  14. ^ "Illustrations," American Architect and Building News 19, no. 535 (March 27 1886): 150.
  15. ^ a b c d Notleymere NRHP Registration Form (1991)
  16. ^ a b Christ Church, Rochester, Western New York: A Story—Chronological, A. D. 1854–A. D. 1905 (Rochester: Christ Church, 1905)
  17. ^ St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral NRHP Registration Form (1973)
  18. ^ St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Complex NRHP Registration Form (2002)
  19. ^ "Important Buildings Projected and Under Way," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 41, no. 1050 (April 28 1888): 529.
  20. ^ "Buildings Projected," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 43, no. 1109 (June 15 1889): 859.
  21. ^ "A Child's Hospital for Albany," New York Times, October 19 1890, 10.
  22. ^ "Buildings Projected," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 946, no. 1171 (August 23 1890): 262.
  23. ^ "Out Among the Builders," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 45, no. 1148 (March 15 1890): 369.
  24. ^ Grace Episcopal Church NRHP Registration Form (2002)
  25. ^ Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club NRHP Registration Form (1974)
  26. ^ "Bank at Providence, R. I.," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 47, no. 1195 (February 7 1891): 195.
  27. ^ "Buildings Projected," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 48, no. 1216 (July 3 1891): 24.
  28. ^ Church Missions House NRHP Registration Form (1982)
  29. ^ "NTH.763." mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Accessed November 8 2021.
  30. ^ "Contracting Intelligence," Engineering Record 27, no. 14 (MArch 4 1893): 286.
  31. ^ "Building Intelligence," Engineering Record 29, no. 15 (March 10 1894): 245.
  32. ^ William J. Gilpin and Henry E. Wallace, New York Clearing House Association, 1854-1905 (New York: Moses King, 1904)
  33. ^ "Recent Brick and Terra-Cotta Work in American Cities," Brickbuilder 4, no. 7 (July 1895): 158.
  34. ^ "Building News," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 57, no. 1467 (May 16 1896): 837.
  35. ^ "Building News," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 60, no. 1532 (July 24 1897): 837.
  36. ^ "Building News," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 61, no. 1580 (June 25 1898): 1111.
  37. ^ "North Carolina," Churchman 83, no. 15 (April 13 1901): 479.
  38. ^ Pamela Scott and Antoinette J. Lee, Buildings of the District of Columbia (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 386.
  39. ^ a b W. M. Morgan-Jones, "The 'Glastonbury Cathedra' in the Washington Cathedral," Churchman 83, no. 15 (April 27 1901): 512-513.
  40. ^ "Banking and Financial News," Bankers Magazine 63, no. 4 (October 1901): 641.
  41. ^ "Building News," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 68, no. 1742 (August 3 1901): 146.
  42. ^ Branford House NRHP Registration Form (1984)
  43. ^ "New York Letter," Church Standard 82, no. 18 (March 1 1902): 662-663.
  44. ^ Lower Genesee Street Historic District NRHP Registration Form (1982)
  45. ^ Houses at 647, 651-53 Fifth Avenue and 4 East 52nd Street NRHP Registration Form (1983)
  46. ^ "Building Operations," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 72, no. 1854 (September 26 1903): 540.
  47. ^ "Illustrations," Western Architect 10, no. 5 (May 1907): 56.
  48. ^ "Construction and Contract News," Improvement Bulletin 31, no. 7 (July 15 1905): 16.
  49. ^ "Plates and Illustrations," Architecture 12, no. 1 (July 15 1905): 101.
  50. ^ Bryant F. Tolles Jr., Summer by the Seaside: The Architecture of New England Resort Hotels, 1820-1950 (Hanover: University Press of New England, 2008)
  51. ^ "Construction News," Engineering News 61, no. 5 (February 4 1909): 37.
  52. ^ "Current Building Operations," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 90, no. 2313 (July 13 1912): 76.
  53. ^ "New York, N. Y.," American Contractor 34, no. 28 (July 12 1913): 47.
  54. ^ Soo Line Building NRHP Registration Form (2008)
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