James Riely Gordon: An Inventory of his Drawings and Papers, ca. 1890-1937


Collection Summary
	Creator	Gordon, James Riely, 1863-1937
	Title:	James Riely Gordon (1863-1937) Drawings and Papers,
	Dates:	ca. 1890-1937
	Abstract	Gordon (1863-1937), an architect who practiced in both San Antonio and New York City, was best-known for his Richardsonian Romanesque designs of public buildings, especially courthouses. He was active in professional organizations such as the American Institute of Architects and its chapters in and around New York City, constantly seeking to improve professional standards. Contains 6,500 drawings, 13 linear feet of architectural records, and 1,600 photographs representing more han 300 buildings and documenting both the Texas and New York phases of Gordon's career (1890-1937). Work of one of his later partners, Alfred Zucker, is represented here by architectural drawings for buildings in New York constructed during the 1890s.
	Identification:	GOR Accession number(s): 1979002, 1982003, 1991009
	Quantity:	Over 6,500 drawings, 13 linear feet of archival material, over 1,600 photographic items, furniture, tools, models
	Language	English.
	Repository:	Alexander Architectural Archive, The University of Texas at Austin.

Biographical Sketch of James Riely Gordon (1863-1937)

James Riely Gordon was born in Winchester, Virginia in 1863. At age 11 he moved with his family to San Antonio in 1874. He worked for the Civil Engineering Corps of the International and Great Northern Railway before apprenticing in the architectural office of W.K. Dobson of San Antonio. He gained invaluable experience in the design of public buildings while supervising construction of the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in San Antonio (1888-1889). By the mid-1880s he had opened his own office. For a brief period, he established a partnership with D.E. Laub (Gordon and Laub Architects) in San Antonio from 1890 to 1891. By the late 1890s Gordon established the J. Riely Gordon Company in Dallas and shortly thereafter moved to New York City where he entered into a brief practice with Alfred Zucker in 1902. He was later associated briefly with Evarts Tracy and Egerton Swartwout in the firm of Gordon Tracy and Swartwout Architects (c1905). He continued to successfully design county courthouses across the eastern seaboard.

Gordon excelled at the design of public buildings and constructed 16 county courthouses in Texas alone. His most popular structures utilized the Richardsonian Romanesque style which accommodated a natural ventilation system so essential in the hot, Texas climate. Among his designs for courthouses in Texas include Bexar County (1891-1896); Victoria County (1892); Ellis County (1895); and McLennan County (1901). In addition, he designed numerous residences and commercial buildings and was selected as the architect for the Texas Pavilion at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Perhaps influenced by his experiences at the fair in Chicago, he switched to the use of a Renaissance Revival style at the turn of the century. He was also responsible for the design of the territorial capitol for Arizona (c.1900) and the Mississippi State Capitol (1896 - not built).

Gordon continued to design public edifices in the Renaissance Revival style after his move to New York. Included among his built designs are the Garrett County Courthouse in Oakland, Maryland (c. 1907); the Bergen County Courthouse in Hackensack, New Jersey (1908-1911); the Cambria County Courthouse in Cambria, Pennsylvania (1914-1924); and the Cortland County Courthouse in Cortland, New York (1922-1923). Perhaps his most interesting and controversial project was a proposed 1913 design for a new New York County Courthouse in the form of a high-rise, classical column or "skyscraper column." In addition, he designed residential and commercial buildings such as the Gramercy Park Apartments (1909), and at least four Elks Clubs in New York and New Jersey.

Gordon continually sought to improve the professional standards of the new profession of architecture throughout his career. He served as secretary of the Texas State Association of Architects, the first professional organization of architects in the state. After moving to New York, he served as president of the New York Society of Architects for 13 years (1916-1929) and participated in the writing of the New York building codes. He served on Mayor Hylan's Housing committee; Mayor Walker's Committee on Plans and Survey; the Tenement House Committee; the Committee on the Board of Standards and Appeals; and the Committee on the New York City Building Code. In addition, he was named honorary president of the New York Society of Architects; served as vice-president and director of the New York Association of Architects; was an honorary member of both the Long Island Society of Architects and the Brooklyn Society of Architects

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Scope and Content of the collection

The James Riely Gordon Papers comprise over 6,500 drawings, 13 linear feet of archival material and over 1,600 photographs representing over 300 buildings that document both the Texas and New York phases of Gordon's career. The material dates from 1890 to 1937. Although most of the material dates from 1900 to 1937, representing his New York career, the earlier years in Texas (c. 1890 - 1900) are well-represented by watercolor presentation drawings and photographs. The work of one of his later partners, Alfred Zucker, is also represented in the collection by architectural drawings for buildings in New York constructed during the 1890s (see the Alfred Zucker collection).

The drawings range from elegant presentation watercolors to working drawings, sketches, and shop drawings. There are few working drawings for the Texas years which are largely represented in watercolor renderings. The New York years, however, are well documented by the entire range of different types of architectural drawings. Plaster models exist for several projects, such as the New York County and Bergen County courthouses.

Additional archival materials include correspondence, specifications, letters of reference, photographs, glass negatives, newspaper clippings and plaster models. Gordon was involved in litigation concerning several projects, including the Bergen County Courthouse, the Cambria County Courthouse, and the Elks Club in Hackensack, New Jersey and Newburgh, New York. There is extensive documentation regarding these legal suits. Aspects of his social life and professional achievements are also represented. While the archival material for the Texas years is more scarce, several items are of particular interest: a list of Texas Clients and letters of recommendation from clients around the state. Of particular note are the hand-written minutes of the Texas State Association of Architects (1886-1895), the only such surviving record of the state's first professional organization of architects.

There are also 34 volumes of clippings from architectural periodicals (primarily American Architect and Building News and Inland Architect) that are bound according to building type. Originally from Alfred Zucker's office, Gordon later attached his name over Zucker's nameplate. These volumes contain numerous illustrations of Gordon's work from Texas.

The collection contains various artifacts, including a commemorative trowel, desk set, and his drafting triangles. Gordon's office furniture, consisting of a mahogany desk, 4 chairs, and 2 large filing cabinets, are also included in the Gordon Papers.

The materials were acquired in 1979 with the assistance of a grant from the Houston Endowment, Inc.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Access is by appointment only to any serious scholar. Rolled materials must be flattened before viewing. A three day advance notice is required to flatten rolled materials. Portions of this collection are not processed and may not be accessible.

Restrictions on Use

Permission for publication is given on behalf of the University of Texas as the owner of the collection and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder which must be obtained by the researcher. For more information please see the Alexander Architectural Archive's Use Policy

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Index Terms
	This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Texas Online Catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.
	Persons:
		Gordon, James Riely, 1863-1937--Archives.
		Zucker, Alfred, b. 1852.
	Organizations:
		Bexar County (Tex.) Courthouse.
		Victoria County (Tex.) Courthouse.
		Ellis County (Tex.) Courthouse.
		McLennan County (Tex.) Courthouse.
		Bergen County (N.J.) Courthouse.
		Cambria County (Pa.) Courthouse.
		Cortland County (N.Y.) Courthouse.
		Garrett County (Md.) Courthouse.
		Arizona Territorial Capitol (Phoenix, Ariz.)
	Subjects:
		Elks (Fraternal order)--Buildings.
		World's Columbian Exposition (1893: Chicago, III.) Texas Pavilion.
		Public buildings--Designs and plans.
		Courthouses--Designs and plans.
		Architecture--Texas.
		Architecture--New York.
		Architecture--New Jersey.
		Richardsonian Romanesque.
		Renaissance Revival (Architecture).
	Document types:
		Shop drawings.
		Models.
		Architectural drawings.
		Competition drawings.
		Ephemera.
		Sketches.
		Presentation drawings.
		Specifications.
		Working drawings.
		Glass photonegatives.
		Photographs.
		Watercolor drawings.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

James Riely Gordon (1863-1937) Drawings and Papers, c1890-1937, the Alexander Architectural Archive, the General Libraries, the University of Texas at Austin

Processing Information

Materials processed by: Lila Knight

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Other Finding Aids

Unpublished inventory in Archive.

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Selected references to works by or about James Riely Gordon (1863-1937)



		Amery, Colin, ed. "Texas." Whole issue of Architectural Review 164(981):275-6 (Nov 1978). Illus, plans, map, ports.
		Goeldner, Paul. "Central symbols: Historic Texas courthouses." [Late 19th century examples by Giles, Ruffini, Dodson and Gordon.] Texas Architect 36(3):78-85 (May-June 1986). Drawings, photos.
		Gordon, James Riely. "Accepted design for Alamo Baptist Church, San Antonio, TX." Inland Architect and News Record 18(2): (Sep 1891). Plate.
		Gordon, James Riely. "Store for the Kimpman estate, San Antonio, TX." American Architect and Building News 43:35 (pl. 943) (Jan 20, 1894). Illus.
		Gordon, James Riely. "Accepted design for Bexar County courthouse, San Antonio, TX." American Architect and Building News 46:27 (pl. 982) (Oct. 20, 1894). Illus.
		Gordon, James Riely. "Accepted design for the Victoria County courthouse." American Architect and Building News 54:24 (p. 1086) (Oct 17, 1896). Illus.
		Gordon, James Riely. "Accepted design for the Dallas flats, Dallas, TX." American Architect and Building News 54:64 (pl. 1091) (Nov 21, 1896). Illus.
		Gordon, James Riely. Obituary. American Architect 150:143 (Apr 1937).
		Gordon, James Riely. Obituary. Architectural Forum 66: supp 94+ (May 1937).
		Gordon, James Riely. "Kaleidescope." Architecture - AIA Journal 75(3):76-87 (Mar 1986). Photos, plans, axonometric view.
		Gordon, James Riely. Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbookonline/
		Ingersoll, Richard. "Corpus Christie City Hall: The ghost of the Texas Courthouse." [Influence of J.R. Gordon and the Ellis County Courthouse, Waxahachie is discussed.] Architect and Design Review of Houston Fall 1988:5-7. Drawing, photos, plans, secn, site plan.
		Meister, Chris. "The Texas State Building: J. Riely Gordon's contribution to the World's Columbian Exposition." Southwestern Historical Quarterly 98(1):1-24 (1994). Illus., photos.
		Sinclair, Fiona. "North, South, East and West: a process of banking patronage." [Architects include J.R. Gordon.] Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Newsletter Autumn 1986 (44):5-8. Photos.
		Stillson, Lila. "James Riely Gordon and the skycolumn: It is as logical as the skyscraper was twenty years ago." Center: A Journal for Architecture in America 2:13-17 (1986). Drawings, plans, refs.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.



Series A Correspondence
	Series Abstract
	The Correspondence series files are arranged chronologically dating from 1891 through 1937, as well as by subjects primarily in New York.
box	folder
1	1	Correspondence, regarding Mrs. Stanley Furniture, E. Everett Wade, the Treasury Department, et. al. undated,
	2	Correspondence, 1891-1899
	3	Correspondence, 1900-1909
	4	Correspondence, 1910-1919
	5	Correspondence, photocopy 1920-1929
	6	Correspondence, photocopy 1930-1937
	7	Correspondence, Americus Society
	8	Correspondence, Liebman-Lustbader Arbitration
	9	Correspondence, Manhattan Club
	10	Correspondence, Mayors Committee on Plan and Survey
	11	Correspondence, "Proposals" (on spine of book), "Forms" (on cover) [1 of 2]
	12	Correspondence, "Proposals" (on spine of book), "Forms" (on cover) [2 of 2]
box	folder
2	1	Correspondence, Real Estate Board of New York
	2	Correspondence, USS New York - Ralston
	3	Correspondence, Prospective clients photocopy

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Series B Personal Papers
	Series Abstract
	The Personal Papers series files include membership, registrations, licenses and awards as well as material regarding his father and granddaughter. The Keepsakes files (Gordon's own term) contain invitations, programs, etc. and are arranged chronologically dating from 1904 through 1934.
box	folder
2	4	Personal papers: Miscellaneous
	5	Personal papers: AIA membership
	6	Personal papers: Licenses and awards
	7	Personal papers: New Jersey registration
	8	Personal papers: New York State registration
box	folder
8	1	Personal papers: power of attorney for Arthur W. Seeligson
box	folder
2	9	Personal papers: stock certificate
	10	Personal papers: European trip (1906)
	11	Personal papers: Gordon, George (JRG's father)
	12	Personal papers: Ralston, Lucy Virginia Gordon (JRG's granddaughter) photocopy
	13	Personal papers: Condolences and funeral arrangements
	14	Personal papers: Keepsakes, undated
			Note: "Keepsakes" is JRG's term. Included are invitations, place cards, programs from awards banquets and the like.
	15	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1904
	16	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1908
	17	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1909
	18	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1910
box	folder
3	1	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1911
	2	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1912
	3	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1913
	4	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1914
	5	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1915
	6	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1916
	7	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1917
	8	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1919
	9	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1921
	10	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1922
	11	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1923
	12	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1924
	13	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1925
	14	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1926
	15	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1927
	16	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1928
	17	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1929
box	folder
4	1	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1930
	2	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1931
	3	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1933
	4	Personal papers: Keepsakes, 1934

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Series C Professonal Organizations and Committee Work
	Series Abstract
	The Professonal Organizations and Committee Work series files include documents regarding the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Architects Club of Brooklyn, Long Island Society of Architects, New York Society of Architects, Texas State Association of Architects (TSAA), New York Building Code, and various committee work.
box	folder
4	5	Memberships in architectural societies
	6	Code of professional practice [1 of 2]
	7	Code of professional practice [2 of 2]
box	folder
8	2	Code of professional practice
box	folder
4	8	American Institute of Architects (AIA) - correspondence
	9	AIA - Proceedings of the 54th annual convention (1921)
	10	AIA - New York Chapter (1930-1937)
	11	AIA - New York Chapter - Charter Revision Committee photocopy (1935)
	12	AIA - New York Chapter - Legislative Committee photocopy (1931-1936)
	13	AIA - New York Chapter - Yearbook (1931-1932)
box	folder
5	1	Architects Club of Brooklyn photocopy
	2	Long Island Society of Architects (1928-1936)
	3	New York Society of Architects - Bulletins (1926-1932)
	4	New York Society of Architects - correspondence photocopy
	5	New York Society of Architects - dinnenr for Walter Martin
	6	New York Society of Architects - Matthew W. DelGaudio
	7	New York Society of Architects - Professional Practice Committee (1936)
box	folder
10	1	Texas State Association of Architects - correspondence
	2	Texas State Association of Architects - correspondence (photocopies)
	3	Texas State Association of Architects - minutes (1886-1895)
	4	Texas State Association of Architects - minutes (photocopies) (Jan. 1886-Aug. 1895)
	5	Texas State Association of Architects - charter
	6	Texas State Association of Architects - charter(photocopy)
box	folder
5	8	New York Building Code (1936)
	9	New York Building Code - final draft
	10	New York Building Code - lists of subcommittees
	11	New York Building Code - Merchants' Association of New York
	12	New York Building Code - Plans and organization for revision
	13	New York Building Code: 5 - Ventilation
	14	New York Building Code: 7 - Minimum Loads
	15	New York Building Code: 7 - Minimum Loads
	16	New York Building Code: 7 & 8 - Wood Construction
	17	New York Building Code: 7 & 8 - Wood Construction
	18	New York Building Code: 8 - Foundations
	19	New York Building Code: 8 - Foundations
box	folder
6	1	New York Building Code: 8 - Masonry
	2	New York Building Code: 8 - Masonry
	3	New York Building Code: 9 - Protection of Public and Workmen
	4	New York Building Code: 9 - Protection of Public and Workmen
	5	New York Building Code: 9 - Protection of Adjoining Property
	6	New York Building Code: 9 - Protection of Adjoining Property
	7	New York Building Code: 10 - Fire Resistive Construction
	8	New York Building Code: 11 - Heating Sections
	9	New York Building Code: 12 - Means of Egress
	10	New York Building Code: 13 - Elevators
	11	New York Building Code: 14 - Plumbing and Gas Piping
	12	New York Building Code: 17 - Sprinkler Systems
	13	Committees: Mayor's Committee on Queens Housing
	14	Committees: Mortgage Council of New York
box	folder
8	3	Committees: Multiple Dwelling Law (revisions)
box	folder
6	15	Committees: New York Building Congress
	16	Committees: New York Building Congress - Building Safety Committee

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Series D Office Files
	Series Abstract
	The Office Files series include letters of recommendation; lists of clients, buildings, and contractors; address books; partnership agreement; copyrighted designs; descriptions; forms; information files; and arbitration files.
box	folder
6	17	Letters of recommendation - blue stationary
	18	Letters of recommendation - unbound
	19	Letters of recommendation: United States [1]
	20	Letters of recommendation: State [2]
	21	Letters of recommendation: County [3]
box	folder
7	1	Letters of recommendation: City [4]
	2	Letters of recommendation: Attorneys [5]
	3	Letters of recommendation: Real estate [6]
	4	Letters of recommendation: Railroad [7]
	5	Letters of recommendation: Editors [8]
	6	Letters of recommendation: Architects [9]
	7	Letters of recommendation: Ministers [10]
	8	Letters of recommendation: Merchants [11]
	9	Letters of recommendation: Miscellaneous [12]
	10	Letters of recommendation: Bankers [13]
	11	Letters of recommendation: Binder
	12	"Texas clients - alphabetical": small pocket book. No job numbers listed.
	13	"Alphabetical list of clients": small pocket book showing corresponding numbers of unknown reference.
	14	"Classified list of buildings designed by James Riely Gording, 507 Fifth Avenue New York": small pocket book barranged by building type. No job numbers listed.
box	folder
9	1	Drawings log (MOLD). Notes on circulating drawings.
	2	List of contractors and engineers (MOLD), roughly 1907, 1909-1910.
box	folder
7	15	Address book (suede cover, "J. Reilly Gordon" embossed on the cover)
box	folder
8	4	Address book - by geographical location
	5	"Index. Catalogue rec." A bound index. Page 2 of cover shows alphabet with corresponding project numbers spans. Alphabetical index of projects with numbers by geographic location. Entries include: building types, client names, and client types by profession.
	6	"Photo catalogue plan room 373 to 378". Possibly an index of drawing numbers. Not comprehensive or consistent in title headings.
box	folder
7	16	Directory of Societies and Ladies' Address List, San Antonio
	17	List of architects at World's Columbian Exposition (1893)
box	folder
8	7	Partnership agreement with Alfred Zucker (March 17, 1902)
box	folder
7	18	Copyrighted designs for 1909
box	folder
8	8	Information regarding rental of office (1911)
	9	Patent application for improvement in golf bags
	10	Descriptions: Banks and business buildings
	11	Descriptions: Clubs
	12	Descriptions: Courthouses and Capitols. Includes Orange City, Sioux County, Iowa and Washington State Capitol competition.
box	folder
7	19	Descriptions: Courthouses ("Baby plan")
box	folder
8	13	Descriptions: Jails
box	folder
7	20	Descriptions: [sketch of proposed "column" skyscraper/courthouse]
	21	Forms: Arbitration
box	folder
8	14	Forms: Contract with employees
box	folder
7	22	Forms: Lettering
	23	Forms: Stationary
box	folder
8	15	Forms: Stock letters
box	folder
7	24	Information: Courthouses photocopy
	25	Information: Monuments
	26	Information: Principles of Planning Small Houses
	27	Information: Prisons
	28	Information: School houses
	29	Information: Skyscrapers photocopy
	30	Information: Towers [skyscrapers] photocopy
box	folder
8	16	Arbitration: Central Methodist Episcopal Church vs. City of New York
	17	Arbitration: Congregation of the Mothers of the Helpless Inc. vs. James V. Cavaliere and Algelo Colaneri

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Series E Job Files
	Series Abstract
	The Job Files series is arranged first by the firm's geographic location of Texas or New York, and then by the project name. This series includes project related material.
		From JRG's Texas Office
box	folder
11	1		Arizona Territorial Capitol Buildings - proposals for competition. "Prospectus of the requirements in the architectural competition for the Territorial Capitol Building to be ereted in Phoenix, Arizona.": pamphlet
	2		Carnegie Public Library, Dallas
box	folder
18	1		Carnegie Public Library, San Antonio
box	folder
11	3		Comal County Courthouse
box	folder
18	2		McLennan County Courthouse, Waco
	3		Mississippi State Capitol, Jackson, Miss.
box	folder
11	4		United States Post Office and Courthouse, San Antonio (correspondence, 1887)
		From JRG's New York Office
box	folder
11	5		Bergen County Courthouse - Investigating Committee (Sept. 18, 1911 and Oct. 5, 1911)
	6		Bergen County Courthouse - Investigating Committee (Oct. 17, 1911 & Nov. 3, 1911)
	7		Bergen County Courthouse - later alterations, etc.
box	folder
18	4		Bergen County Courthouse
	5		Bergen County Courthouse - investigation
	6		Borgfeldt Building, New York
box	folder
11	8		Cambria County Courthouse, Ebensburg, Pa.
	9		Cambria County Courthouse - JRG vs. County of Cambria - transcript [1 of 2] (1930)
	10		Cambria County Courthouse - JRG vs. County of Cambria - transcript [2 of 2] (1930)
box	folder
18	7		Cambria County Courthouse (1914, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1930-1931)
	8		Cambria County Courthouse - JRG vs. County of Cambria (1929)
	9		Congregation B'Nai Jeshrun, New York
box	folder
11	11		Cortland County Courthouse (1924, 1926)
box	folder
18	10		Cortland County Courthouse - account ledgers
box	folder
11	12		Cortland War Memorial photocopy (1924-1926)
box	folder
12	1		Cuba - Havana Capitol - correspondence, (originals) 1910-1911
	2		Cuba - Havana Capitol - correspondence, (photocopies) 1910-1911
box	folder
18	11		Cuba - Havana Capitol - clippings photocopy dates and titles of newspapers, keep clips
	12		Cuba - Havana Capitol
	13		Cuba - Havana Capitol - competition
	14		Cuba - Havana Capitol - description of proposed Presidential Palace
	15		Cuba - Havana Capitol - misc. photocopy
	16		Cuba - Havana Capitol - notes and sketches
	17		Cuba - Havana Capitol - questions re: program
	18		Dorrance, John; Hotel, Houston (1906)
box	folder
12	3		Ebensburg Auditorium, Ebensburg, Pa. photocopies
	4		Elks Club - Bronx
box	folder
18	19		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - chronology
	20		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - chronology and correspondence
box	folder
12	5		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - correspondence with contractors, 1928; Aug. 1-Oct. 31, 1929
	6		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - correspondence with contractors, Nov. 1-Dec. 31, 1929)
	7		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - correspondence with equipment suppliers and manufacturers, 1929
	8		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - description
	9		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - lawsuit - JRG vs. Elks Lodge of Hackensack - items 1-124
box	folder
13	1		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - lawsuit - JRG vs. Elks Lodge of Hackensack - items 125-270
	2		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - lawsuit - JRG vs. Elks Lodge of Hackensack - items 271-449
	3		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - lawsuit - JRG vs. Elks Lodge of Hackensack - items 450-610
	4		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - lawsuit - JRG vs. Elks Lodge of Hackensack - items 611-777
box	folder
18	21		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - lawsuit - JRG vs. Elks Lodge of Hackensack - misc. memos, violations of specifications
box	folder
19	1		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - notes and account ledgers photocopy
box	folder
13	5		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - site visit reports and statement of accounts
	6		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - sketches and notes
box	folder
14	1		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - specifications - bowling alley, plumbing, heating
box	folder
13	2		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - specifications - electrical, organ, art glass
	3		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - specifications - plumbing and gas, carpets, wood furniture
	4		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - specifications - vault proposal, bowling alley
box	folder
15	1		Elks Club - Hackensack, N.J. - suppliers, information, bids, etc.
box	folder
19	2		Elks Club - New York
box	folder
15	2		Elks Club - New York - article in Architecture and Building, vol. XLIII (Dec. 1911)
	3		Elks Club - New York - court case
	4		Elks Club - New York - dedication program
	5		Elks Club - New York - log books (2)
	6		Elks Club - New York - miscellaneous bids
box	folder
19	3		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y.
box	folder
15	7		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - art glass
	8		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - bar fixtures
	9		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - bill
	10		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - bowling alleys
	11		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - clock
	12		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - correspondence photocopy (May 21-Dec. 22, 1930)
	13		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - correspondence (Jan. 17-Dec. 29, 1931)
	14		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - correspondence (Jan. 14, 1932-Apr. 17, 1935)
	15		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - dedication program
box	folder
16	1		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - dumbwaiter
	2		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - electrical contractor
	3		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - exhibits for summary judgement
	4		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - furniture, rugs, draperies, etc.
	5		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - general contractor
	6		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - general correspondence prior to bids
	7		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - hardware
box	folder
19	4		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - important papers re: contract - Gordon vs. Elks Lodge
box	folder
16	8		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - information
	9		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - kitchen fixtures
	10		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - lighting fixtures
	11		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - loan legal papers
	12		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - notes for plans and specifications
	13		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - office memos
	14		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - painting and decorating
	15		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - plaster ornaments
	16		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - plumbing and gas fitting
box	folder
17	1		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - plumbing and heating
	2		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - proposals, interpretations, etc.
	3		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - refrigeration
	4		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - steel and iron
	5		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - stone
	6		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - superintendent's reports
	7		Elks Club - Newburgh, N.Y. - traveling expenses
box	folder
19	5		Freedmen's Hospital, Washington, D.C.
box	folder
17	8		Garrett County Courthouse, Oakland, Md.
box	folder
19	6		Garrett County Courthosue, Oakland, Md.
box	folder
17	9		Havana Hotel Co.
box	folder
19	7		Hudson City Savings Institution, Hudson, N.Y.
box	folder
17	10		Lebanon County Courthouse, Lebanon, Pa.
box	folder
19	8		Loft Building, New York
	9		Masonic Hall - Schenectady, N.Y.
box	folder
17	11		Mechanics National Bank, Trenton, N.J.
box	folder
19	10		Mechanicville (N.Y.) High School
	11		National Metropolitan Bank, Washington, D.C.
box	folder
17	12		New York County Courthouse
box	folder
19	12		New York County Courthouse - act
	13		New York County Courthouse - clippings photocopy
	14		New York County Courthouse - commentary on the winning design
box	folder
17	13		New York County Courthouse - competition programs
	14		New York County Courthouse - correspondence
	15		New York County Courthouse - correspondence photocopy
	16		New York County Courthouse - correspondence - commissioner of records
box	folder
19	15		New York County Courthouse - envelopes
	16		New York County Courthouse - Guy Lowell design
	17		New York County Courthouse - Guy Lowell design - controversy
	18		New York County Courthouse - notes for design
box	folder
17	17		New York County Courthouse - reports
box	folder
19	19		New York County Courthouse - "Save the City Hall and the City Hall Park"
box	folder
17	18		New York County Courthouse - schedules and tables, courthouse plans
box	folder
19	20		New York County Courthouse - transcripts of newspaper articles
box	folder
17	19		New York State War Memorial Authority photocopy
box	folder
19	21		Non-housekeeping apartment building, New York
box	folder
17	20		North Dakota State Capitol
	21		Scarsdale, N.Y. - Union Free School District #1
	22		Sioux City Bank, Sioux City, Iowa
	23		World's Fair, New York photocopy (1935-1937)
box	folder
19	22		Yale University Library, New Haven, Conn.

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Series E1 Specifications
	Series Abstract
	The Specifications series contains both specific projects and numbered masters. These documents may be duplicates of items already found in the Job Files series. This series is not completely processed. Box numbers listed below are temporary assignments.
box
1			Golf kit
			Twelve story apartment building for Olson, Gramercy Park East, New York, NY
			Twelve story apartment building for Olson, Gramercy Park East, New York, NY
			Verschleiser (Max) Building, Bronx, NY
			Unidentified- to be sorted later
box
2			Masonic Temple, Owensboro, NY
			Dace residence
			Trieble residence
			Spriggs - Sanner residence
			Sanner residence
			Green County Court House, NY
			Green County Court House, NY
box
3			Palace Theater, built for Mr. Esposito, Morristown, NJ
			33 West 51st Street, NY
			Humphreys residence. Addition and alteration.
box
4			NY Lodge no. 1
			NY Lodge no. 1
			Bronx Lodge no. 871
			Cortland County Court House, Cortland, NY
box
5			45th Street Exchange Building
			45th Street Exchange Building
			45th Street Exchange Building
			45th Street Exchange Building
			Penthouse 507
			Penthouse 507
			Penthouse 507
			Penthouse 507
			Madison County Court House, NY
box
6			Borgfeldt Building for Seaboard Realty Co., NW corner 16th and Irving Place
			Interstate Trust Company
			Lebanon County Court House, PA
			Lebanon County Court House, PA
			Metropolitan Credit Corp., NY
			Newburgh Lodge no. 247, BPO Elks, Newburgh, NY
			Regina Watson Memorial, Petersboro, NH
box
7			Newburgh Lodge, Newburgh, NY
			Newburgh Lodge, Newburgh, NY
			Newburgh Lodge, Newburgh, NY
box
8			Auditorium for the Dauntless Fire Company, Ebensburg, PA
			Auditorium, Ebensburg, PA
			How to Judge the House You Buy, FHA form no. 805
box
9			Bergen County Court House, Hackensack, NJ
			Bergen County Court House, Hackensack, NJ
box
10			Bergen County Jail, Hackensack, NJ
			Bergen County Court House, Hackensack, NJ
		(Cortland County Court House and Jail, Cortland, NY)
			Bergen County Jail, Hackensack, NJ (Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA)
box
11			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
box
12			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
box
13			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
box
14			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
box
15			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Cambria County Court House, Ebensburg, PA
			Numbered masters:
box
15.1				1
				1
				1
				2
				2
box
16				2
				3
				3
				3
box
17				4
				4
				4
				5
				5
box
18				5
				6
				6
				6
box
19				7
				8
				8
box
20				7
				7
				14
				14
box
21				8
				9
				9
				9
box
22				10
				10
				10
				15
box
23				11
				11
				11
				12
box
24				12
				12
				13
				13
				13
box
25				14
				15
				15
				16
box
26				16
				17
				18
box
27				17
				17
				18
box
28				18
				19
				19
box
29				19
				unidentified
box
30				20
				20
				21
				21
box
31				20
				21
				22
				24
box
32				22
				22
				23
				23
				23
box
33				24
				24
				25
				25
				26
				26
box
34				25
				26
				27
				28
				29
box
35				27
				27
				28
				28
				29
				29
box
36				30
				30
				30
				31
				32
				32
				32

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Series F Clippings

Series Abstract

The Clippings series consists of Gordon's own clippings which he had glue mounted on linen (c. 1890-1937). This series also includes Gordon's obituaries.

box

This is a flat box filled with newspaper clippings, most of which are gluemounted on linen (c.1890-1937). Gordon's obituaries are also in this box.

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Series G Photographic material

Series Abstract

The Photographic material series contains documents reflecting Gordon's personal and office, as well as his professional projects. Images include both the actual buildings and photographs of Gordon's renderings. There are many duplicate images found in different formats throughout this series. Formats are defined below. This series is not completely processed. Box numbers listed below are temporary assignments. Subject descriptions have been enhanced as the collection is serviced. This series includes project related material.

Definitions of formats for this series:

Photograph: 8″ × 10″ black and white photoprint

Cyanotype: 8″×10″ cyanotype

Mounted: 14″×10″ black and white photoprint or cyanotype mounted on acidic board.

Glass negatives: 8″×10″ black and white negatives unless 5″ × 7″ is specified.

Oversize photographs: Black and white photographs that are stored in flat file drawers.

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Series G1 Personal and Office Photographs

Portraits of James Riely Gordon

box

folder

photographs

photographs - orginal print

Miscellaneous personal photographs

box

folder

108-11

oversized photographs

Gordon's office

box

folder

photographs

box

folder

cyanotypes

box

folder

mounted

box

folder

negatives

box

folder

31-10

glass negatives

Group photographs

box

folder

photographs

box

folder

cyanotypes

box

folder

2-3

mounted

box

folder

31-11

glass negatives

Dinner to Honorable Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Manhattan Club (Feb. 20, 1933)

box

folder

108-11

oversized photographs

National Republican League dinner for William Howard Taft, Hotel Astor, New York City (Oct. 1, 1910)

box

folder

108-11

oversized photographs

New York Society of Architects - Annual Dinner, Hotel New Yorker (Dec. 17, 1935)

box

folder

108-11

oversized photographs

Second Panel Shefiff's Jury Award Dinner, Hotel Astor, New York City (Feb. 9, 1911)

box

folder

108-11

oversized photographs

Unidentified people

box

folder

31-1,2

glass negatives
(5″ × 7″)

Images of New York City taken by Jessie Tarbox Beals

box

folder

photographs

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Series G2 Job Photographs

Unidentified architectural details

box

folder

108-11

oversized photographs

Unidentified bank

box

folder

photographs

Unidentified buildings

box

folder

4-5

mounted

box

folder

108-11

oversized photographs

box

folder

31-9

glass negatives

Unidentified buildings by other architects

box

folder

photographs

Unidentified church

box

folder

photographs

Unidentified commercial buildings

box

folder

photographs

box

folder

cyanotypes

Unidentified commercial interiors

box

folder

photographs

Unidentified courthouse exteriors

box

folder

cyanotypes

Unidentified courthouse interiors

box

folder

photographs

Unidentified details

box

folder

108-11

oversized photographs

Unidentified office building, Baltimore

box

folder

photographs

box

folder

cyanotypes

box

folder

12.5

Unidentified people

Unidentified public buildings

box

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