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Date
12-3-1894
Personal Name Recipient
Allison, James W., 1833-1898
Description
Letter from Griffin & Randall to James W. Allison discussing work in the dining room and library.
Transcription
Dec. 3rd ’94. James W. Allison Esq. Richmond. Dear Sir, Your’s of Nov. 27th at hand. Purdy’s contract for your Dining Rm. Finish covers every thing except the blinds and doors, which as you know, are in Stowe & Nuckols contract; consequently, there is no room for “extras” of any description as far as it is possible to see now. In fact nothing but a change in the character or treatment of the work could produce an “extra”; and that only through your approval. I think therefore it would be wise for you to order this work done at once as the material should be carefully prepared and dried for proper length of time before any work on it can be commenced. We shall prepare at once drawings for your Library finish. All the trim should be straight oak (if not “quartered oak” in the room. We might find what the difference would be in using “quartered oak” for the doors and panels in mantel, else where straight oak. We can have Purdy also figure on the work for comparison. We are glad that you are considering the question of putting in the book-cases as suggested on front wall. The cornice will be considered in connection with the changes suggested. The drawings call for a plaster cornice about the wooden cornice of the mantel, the former only being carried around the room. We need to know the positions of registers and air ducts. As soon as it is possible we think it would be wise to put in your heating plant and give the house a thorough drying. Not only the plaster but the brick-work and the wood-work too need to to be well dried out. Your’s truly, Griffin & Randall. P.S. Mahogany and black-walnut furniture will look O.K in an oak room but oak or black walnut will not go into a mahogany room. [ALS, Griffin & Randall to James W. Allison, December 3, 1894, on letterhead: Griffin & Randall Architects 52 Broadway New York.] [edited by VR]
Personal Name Subject
Allison, James W., 1833-1898 -- Correspondence
Corporate Name Subject
Griffin & Randall -- Correspondence; E.H. Purdy M.F.G. Co.
Topical Subject
Architecture, Domestic -- Virginia -- Richmond; Architects and builders; Decoration and ornament, Architectural -- Virginia -- Richmond; Architecture -- Details; Architecture, Domestic -- Designs and plans; Letting of contracts -- Virginia -- Richmond; Building -- Estimates -- Virginia -- Richmond
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 Griffin & Randall to James W. Griffin, 1894 December 3, James W. Allison papers, M 1, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University.
File Name
pre109.pdf