Elias Willard Smith (1814/1816–1886) was an American architect and civil engineer. He was born in 1814[1] or 1816[2] (sources differ) in Albany, New York, and died in 1886 in Washington, DC.[2] He was educated as an engineer, at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[3] As a graduation present from his father, he undertook a trip from St. Louis to the Rocky Mountains and back (1839–1840). During this trip, he recorded his observations in a journal, which was handed down in his family and later published in various scholarly venues.[2][1]
Elias Willard Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1814 or 1816 |
| Died | 1886 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Buildings | Daniel S. Schanck Observatory |
After returning from the Rocky Mountains expedition and until the Civil War, Smith practiced engineering, having some connection with the water works in Detroit and Chicago. While living in Detroit, Smith practiced architecture, and notably Dankmar Adler studied with him before 1861.[4] After the Civil War, he moved to Virginia, first to Williamsburg and then to Georgetown. During this period he performed some work for the Washington Gas Works.[2]
In 1865, Smith designed the Daniel S. Schanck Observatory for Rutgers College (now Rutgers University).[5]
References
edit- ^ a b Barry, J. Neilson (September 1913). "Journal of E. Willard Smith while with the Fur Traders, Vasquez and Sublette, in the Rocky Mountain Region, 1839-1840". The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society. 14 (3): 250–279. JSTOR 20609937.
- ^ a b c d Hafen, LeRoy R. (July 1950). "Introduction and Notes-With Fur Traders in Colorado, 1839-40. The Journal of E. Willard Smith" (PDF). The Colorado Magazine. XXVII (3): 161–188. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-05. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
- ^ Crutchfield, James A. (2016). It Happened in Colorado (3 ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 24. ISBN 978-1493023523. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
- ^ Green, David B. (July 3, 2016). "1844: The architect who would rebuild Chicago is born". Haaretz. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
- ^ "Then and Now: A photographic study of Rutgers' College Avenue Campus, Part 2". Muckgers. 2014-04-30. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
View of the Daniel S. Schanck Observatory from George St in 1901. The President's House can be seen to the left. Built in 1865, this two-story Greek Revival building was Rutgers' first science facility. It was designed by Willard Smith and modeled after the ancient Tower of the Winds in Athens, Greece.