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Date
11-5-1895
Personal Name Recipient
Allison, James W., 1833-1898
Description
Letter from T. Henry Randall to James W. Allison discussing wallpaper.
Transcription
James W. Allison, Esq. Richmond. Va. Nov. 5th ‘95 Dear Sir, Your's of the 2nd at hand and its contents noted. I have spent a couple of hours this morning at Stearns place, with the "Eldorado" paper spread out on the floor, trying to arrange it for your Hall so as to give the best results. I found that if we made it continuous as far as the numbers are concerned we would not get the best results as some of the finest portions of the scenes would have to be cut up by pilasters and doors. Consequently, I have arranged it so that the two most attractive pictures will fill the two opposite panels in center of room, and that the most vivid coloring will come around the Vestibule door where there is the least light. Both Mr. Stearns and the paper hanger (about whom he has been corresponding with you) agreed that my scheme seemed to be the most effective as well as the most economical. As I said before, you will need one set, and seven, or eight extra pieces, the last depending up the way the others work out and the need of anything in addition to fill up the space over the staircase. In regard to the cost of the hanger's price per day, Stearns told you it would be four and a half dollars per day and not six, and that you were to board the man, or pay for same. He does not charge for time in travelling, although his "Union" requires him to do so. I understand from Stearns that he offered this price, though it is below "Union prices," without intending to make a cent by it; and he also states that he has quoted the lowest possible prices for the other papers as well. I enclose peice of "Eldorado" paper cut from the top of one of the rolls. I can not find a sample of color that could be actually copied by Peters for the ceilings of Hall; but I think he can easily enough mix a lighter shade of this, or else copy it and make the ceiling and walls alike. This was done in my brother's house and the result was perfectly satisfactory. In regard to the paper for the Second story Hall walls, Stearns advises a figured paper of another shade of blue; but I fully believe in the scheme of carrying up the same shade of blue over these walls. No plain paper is made of the exact tint that we want, but it is a simple matter to make it at the factory (in ten days) and it would cost 75 cents per roll. I should strongly advise this being done and I should also advise your having it done by Stearn's man, as it requires greater skill than the figured papers. I presume it would be carried to top of Attic staircase and to Passage door beyond Second Story Lavatory. This would be a small amount of paper, as there is not much wall space left after the door trims, dados &c. are taken out. The paper would be about what the other is in quality. I shall attend to the paper for Music Room tomorrow. Your's truly, T. Henry Randall. [ALS, T. Henry Randall to James W. Allison, November 5, 1895, on letterhead: T. Henry Randall Architect [48 Exchange Place canceled] New York. Envelope docketed [image unavailable]: T. H. Randall-- Nov. 5. 1895 - Arrangement of Eldorado [word illegible] & quantity required. Price for hanging by Stearns man. 7 cuts for Hall ceiling Paper for 2nd Story Hall-- plain blue to be made to [word illegible] cost 75 [symbol illegible] pr roll. And Nov 16, 1895] [edited by MT]
Personal Name Subject
Randall, T. Henry, 1869-1905 -- Correspondence; Allison, James W., 1833-1898 -- Correspondence
Topical Subject
Architecture, Domestic -- Virginia -- Richmond; Decoration and ornament, Architectural -- Virginia -- Richmond; Letting of contracts -- Virginia -- Richmond; Building -- Estimates -- Virginia -- Richmond; Wallpaper
Geographic Subject
Richmond (Va.) -- Historic houses, etc.; Richmond (Va.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.
City/Location
Richmond (Va)
Genre
letters (correspondence)
Local Genre
text; archives
Type
Still Image; Text
Digital Format
application/pdf
Language
eng
Rights Statement URL
Rights
This material is in the public domain in the United States and thus is free of any copyright restriction. Acknowledgement of Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries as a source is requested.
Collection
Building VCU’s President's House
Source
Original letter: Letter from T. Henry Randall to James W. Allison, 1895 November 5, James W. Allison papers, M 1, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University.
File Name
pre104.pdf