Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-21


TRIAL BODY WITH CHAPTERS IN MANY CITIES
HAVE FILLED ITS OFFICES.
The annual convention Of the American In
stitute Of Architects, which begins here tomor-
| row, will bring to this city many of the most
distinguished members of the profession. The
sessions will be held in the Arlington Hotel.
Commissioner Douglass will deliver the sd-
dress Of welcome at the opening session tomor-
row. The president Of the institute, Mr.. r.
N. Hunt of New York, will deliver the annual
address, At the session Thursday morning
papers will be read by A. J. Bloor, 8. E. Cham
berlain and s. E Marshall. In the afternoon
the members will be entertained by the WASH
ington architects by trip to Mount Vernon,
an oyster lunch being served on board Friday
morning the annual election Of officers will be
held and then the institute will finally adjourn.
The committee of arrangements, composed of
J. W. Root of Chicago. VIM. PoindeXter and
Glenn Brown Of this city, have prepared an
attractive program for the entertainment of
the members. They will visit the White House
on Friday and other points of interest about
the CITY, Mr.. Edward Clark, the architect Of
the Capitol Mr.. ]. II. WIndrim, the supervis-
ing architect; Mr.. G. Brown Goode, the director
of the National Museum. and Mr.. Adolph Cluss,
will personally conduct members about the
buildings in which they are specially inter
ested.
SKETCH OF THE ORGANIZATION.
The American Institute of Architects has an
interesting history. Nearly fifty-five years ago
December z, 1880 the half score or 30 Of
properly trained architects practicing in the
United States met in New York and organized
an American Institution Of Architects"
nrlv IS 80 nlaara Nd nrxy
advanced age, Mr.. Alexander ]. Davis, the
architect of the University of the City of New
York and of much other good work, and now a
corresponding member Of this pioneer organ
ization's ineal descendant, the present insti-
tute.
The "instSntion" did not last, however. It
was impossible 1t should. It's members were
but a handful at the best and they lived too
far apart to gather from each other the warmth
and sustenance and strength necessary for
brotherhood. 1t famed up, fickered, famed
up again, but finally died out, or at least ap-
parently SO: but the vital spark still remained
IN Its ashes, and some ten years afterward an
organization was again initiated in New York
under the name (retained in its recent reofgan-
lzation) OF the American 1nstitute of Archi-
tects, and with much better prospects than be-
fore; for meanwhile there had appeared on the
scene American youth Of the higher technical
training, while the previous influx of WELL
trained foreign practitioners had continued,
thus supplying elements that eagerly co-ope-
rated with the remnant of the small band of
founders of the institution in the endeavor
to establish, on permanent foundations, fra
ternity consecrated to the high aim of 'unit-
ing In fellowship the architects of this conti-
nent, and in combining their efforts SO as to
promote the artistic, scientific and practical
efficiency of the profession"
THE SOCIETY INCORPORATED.
But it was not till 1S57-just twenty years
after the old institution was called to ratify
its constitution in the Pennsylvania Academy
of Fine Arts in Philadelphia-that those who
remained of its members united with this fresh
stock in obtaining a charter for this society,
which they did from Judge Roosevelt of the
Supreme Court, with his cordial wishes for their
success. For four years the organization gath
cred In numbers and strength, till in 1861 the
civil war broke out and absorbed most of its
members. The institute did not disband, how
ever. 1t simply suspended its meetings and OPP
erations for less than three years, and before
the close of the disturbance resumed Its func-
tions. But, incorporated though it was in New
York, its membership nevertheless covered,
however sparsely, the whole Union, and to
some extent the contiguous British provinces;
and the roll gradually increased till in 1867, ten
years after its incorporation, it became neces-
sary to meet the local exigencies of its
outlying constituency by establishing a system
of branches, or chapters, as they are called,
which have slowly augmented in number till
last year they had seats in most of the
principal cities OF the Union, as fol-
lows. The figures attached to each indi-
cate the year of its accession to the institute:
New York chapter, March 10, 1867; Philadel-
phia chapter, November IA, 1869; Chicago chap
ter, December IS, 1869; Cincinnati chapter,
February IA, 1870; Boston chapter, December
=, 1870; Baltimore chapter, January Is, 1871;
Albany chapter, May %, 1873; Rhode Island
chapter, November 10, 1875; San Francisco
chapter, November 4, 1881; St Louis chapter,
April l6, 1884; Indianapolis chapter, July 2.
1854; Washington chapter, September 81, 1887.
THE CONSOLIDATION WITH THE WESTERN Asso-
CITATION.
The year Of 1889 having been rendered men,
orable in the history of the institute by the ac-
cession of the Western Association of Archi-
tects (Which had been formed five years previ-
ously on the general lines already laid down by
the institute. and on the same theory as that
which induced the adoption Of the chapter sys-
tenn, viz, that a benetcent oversight of the
elements affecting the profession could better
be had for local purposes by local body than
by one ha ying its seat at distance) it is prob
able that the reports submitted at the conven-
ton to open here tomorrow will show a large
increase in tho list of chapters with ALSO it
may be reasonably hoped, many evidences Of
accomplished improvement in working meth
DDS and suggestions for still further ameliora-
tive processes in the interest of good architec-
ture, and Of its practitioners well as OF still
closer union than heretofore among all the
architectural associations of the country un-
der the federated system offered by the insti-
tute.
The labor involved in the formative pro.
cesses Of the institute was great, and equally SO
the after work of correspondence, stimulation,
coordination and general admnistration-the
moro SO, as it has been without endowment
while Its income from initiation and annual
dues has been insufficient even to cover proper
expenditure for mere clerical service. for rent
and for the printing, to say nothing Of the edit
ing OF its proceedings.
DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS.
In the first thirty years Of its corporate exist
ence the institute had but two presidents viz:
The late Richard Upiohn, architect Of Trinity
and St Thomas churches in New York, for
nineteen years-from its incorporation in 1857
till his resignation in 1S76-and his successor,
DIR. Thomas U. Walter, architect Of the Capt.
toll at Washington, for eleven years-till his
decease three years ago. 1t has had but three
Mr.. J. c. Wells. for three years. the late Mr. r.
g. Hatfield, author Of Transverse Strains. ~
for nineteen years, and his brother, Mr.. o. P.
Hatfield, for ten years. The excessive demands
upon the secretary may be inferred from
the fact that during the thirty-two years
named the institute has been obliged to call
successfully on no less than thirteen among its
most prominent, active and public-spirited
members to perform the duties OF that
Office. The first secretary of the insti-
tute, also the most active agent in pro-
noting its formation, was for nearly four years
Mr.. X. NJ. Hunt, who was followed by Mr.
II w.. g. G.. l.