Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-07
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By Louis A. Simon
(The following article is reprinted
with permission from the Journal of
the American Institute of Architects.
Mr.. Simon is Fello1D of the AIA.)
w ITH THE MOVEMENT. now
w happily established, to preserve
historic buildings as heritage that is
meaningful and lasting, there comes
comfortable feeling that the complex
of life has not deadened our sense of
values. But signs are not lacking to
show that there is no room for COM
placency on that score.
AS related to the Nations Capital
City, immediate concern is aroused by
the effort now being launched to de-
molish the old Patent Office Building,
for the purpose of constructing in it's
place a building for parking automo-
biles-no less!
BY those who know Washington,
the old Patent Office is recognized as
an outstanding example of the spirit
OF the Greek Revival period that OBJ
tanned in Europe, and spread to
America in the early years of the 18th
century, where it found ready accept
ance.
AS philosophy of national life, set
up in written instrument of world
shaking Importance and dealing with
ideas with far horizons, there is ar
resting interest in relation to the Pat
ent Office. AS Government agency
it exists by virtue of a concept that
plays vital part in shaping the indus
trial and cultural destiny of these
United States. The Constitution, it
will be recalled, presents that concept
in Article I, Section VIII, where. in
naming certain powers of Congress. it
includes 1.-The power to promote the
progress of science and useful arts, by
securing, for limited times. to authors
and inventors. the exclusive right to
their respective writings and discov-
cries."
In consonance with that pronounce
ment and the Importance attached to
it. there came out of the first Congress
the Patent Law of 1890, creating a
board of three cabinet officers with
power to grant patents. Followed then
the Act of 1893, abolishing the board
and placing solely under the Secretary
of State CThomas Jefferson at that
time' the duty of granting patents
Later there was provided a Commits
sioner of Patents appointed by the
President but acting under the direc-
ton of the Secretary of State.
With the passing of the years, the
ever-groWing volume of patents and
the assemblage of models, records, ETC.,
led to authorization for a separate
building for the Patent Office, and
funds were made available for it's con-
struction "of the kind of material of
which the walls of the Capitol and the
Mansion of the President are con-
structed"; but with the thrifty adj
monition, provided that a cheaper
and more suitable material cannot be
secured
July 6. 1885. President Jackson APP
pointed Robert Mills to design public
buildings, and in a communication to
a congressional committee two years
later Mr.. Mills wrote: 1.-THE letter of
appointment which I have the honor
to hold from the late Chief Magistrate,
among other duties made it obligatory
On me to see to the construction of a
Treasury Building and Patent Office,
the former building to be erected on the
old site and the latter on the square
north of the Post Office. With these
instructions it has been my best en-
deavor to comply.
The building. as designed by Robert
Mills for the Patent Office was occu-
pied by that agency for some 80 years.
Now. still in good condition, it accom-
mOdateS the Civil Service Commission
Begun in 1886 and finally completed
after an interruption of several years,
the building bears the stamp of Robert
Mills unfailing ability to express in his
designs that refined simplicity and quiet
dignity so characteristic of the archi-
lecture of the Greek Revival period
And now where do we stand in this
year of grace 1854?
We stand facing the fact that in