Evening star., 1932-11-06
MRS. REGINA WEST
|. IS bUR|ED D HERE
Grandfather Designed Pat
ent Office and Is Credited
With Capitol Plan.

Mrs. Regina Elliot West, a grands
daughter of William p Elliot, noted
architect Of his day, who designed the
United States Patent once Building.
ana is credited with having drawn the
original plans for the Capitol. was
buried yesterday morning in Mount
Olivet Cemetery.
Mrs. West, whose family had resided
in Washington since its earliest days,
died Wednesday in New York City after
an illness of nearly year Soon after
her marriage, some 80 years ago, she
made her residence in New York, but
1t was in accordance with her last
wishes that her body was brought TO
Washington, the city of her birth, for
interment in the family plot. Rev. Ed
ward Roach Of St Matthew'S Catholic
Church, friend Of her childhood days,
ofhciated at the service held at the
grave. Mrs. West was 81 years old.
An accomplished harpiSt, Mrs. West
was the first and only woman who
ever played with the United States
Marine Band under its great director,
the late John Philip Sousa. That was
al the ume of the inaugural ball in
honor of the Second Inauguration Of
President William Mckinley. The reg
ular harpiSt of the Marine Band had
been injured in an accident and Sousa
urged Mrs. West, then Miss Elliot, to
take his place. This she did without
any previous practice with the band and
later Sousa persuaded her to take a
brief tour as member Of the band.
A short while before his death, the
famous band leader wrote a letter TO
Mrs. West, whom he had not seen for
20 years. and referred with feeling to
the talent and skill with which she
played at that inaugural ball in Wash
ington. Soon after the ball Mrs Nc
Ktnley was confined to the White House
by illness and the President requested
that the young woman bring her harp
and play for both of them again.
Mrs West was born in Washington
and educated at the Georgetown Vista
ton Convent. where she studied music
She was the daughter Of Charles A.
Elliot. formerly secretary Of the District
Bar Association and one Of the leading
patent lawyers Of his day Mr.. Elliot
was law partner of Talmadge Lam
bert father of Wilton j. Lambert PROM
inent Washington attorney.
The old Elliot mansion, where the
family resided was the scene OF many
brilliant social occasions in early Wash
ington 1t stood for many years on
North Capitol street and was torn down
to make way for the recent improve
Ill SIlOil 6LdtlOll FldZd. AS d
young woman, Mrs. West was given her
debut in Washington society by Nine.
Romero then wife Of the Mexican Am
basSador.
During many years Of his work in
Washington, William p Elliot. her
grandfather, left architectural monu-
ments to his memory. He was closely
associated with Mai LEnfant in laying
out the plans for the city Of Washing
ton and In designing many of its fea-
lures Early credit was more or less
denied him, but in recent years the
influence Of his talent and his connec-
tions with the original design for the
Capitol Building have become recog-
nized. Elliot and rival architect, Rob-
ert Mills, had submitted designs for
the Treasury Building but the latter's
design was adopted.
Elliot also was prominently known in
scientific circles and it was largely
through his efforts, it was said. that the
site Of the Capitol was chosen and the
dome erected IN the closest possible
proximity TO the meridian line that cuts
through the District Of Columbia.
Mrs. West married Hume H West OF
New York. prominent business man.
who survives. Although she had resided
IN New York since her marriage she was
frequent visitor to Washington and
kept up many old family contacts. Her
mother, who survives her, Mrs. Clara p.
Elliot, has always lived here at 1921
Massachusett avenue
Mrs. West is survived also by two sons,
one OF them, James z. West being a
resident of Washington. and also by two
daughters. They are Joseph West, Mrs.
Luella Mason and Miss Henrietta West,
all residents Of New York City. She
also had grandson, Robert Mason.