MENU

Washington National Cathedral Collection

COllections Highlight:

Wrapping Paper

Space in the Museum

Gift of Washington National CATHEDRAL

Donated in 2015

The Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives consist of more than 32,000 historic architectural drawings related to the design and construction of the Cathedral and other historic buildings on its 57-acre campus in Northwest Washington. The collection dates from 1896 to 2007 and includes drawings of the Saint Albans School for Boys, the National Cathedral School for Girls, Beauvoir Elementary School, the Cathedral College, the Cathedral Library, the Deanery, and Olmsted Woods.

The collection is comprised of sketches on trace paper, correspondence with contractors and craftsmen, iterative renderings, design cartoons, and construction drawings for woodwork, ironwork, stone carving and stained glass featuring the contributions of the many prominent architects and landscape architects who worked on the Cathedral: Ernest Flagg, Bodley & Vaughn, Frohman Robb & Little, Philip Hubert Frohman, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., Trevillian Architects, and Segretti Tepper.

The gift also includes the Philip Hubert Frohman Architectural Drawings Collection, which encompasses other projects around the country designed by the Cathedral’s principal architect, Philip Hubert Frohman.

The Washington National Cathedral Collection is still being processed but select drawings can be viewed and researched on our Online Collections Database. Please stop by often as we continue to update and add records.

Proposed Amphitheater, Washington Cathedral, 1938. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Topographical Map of the Washington Cathedral Close, 1909. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Upper Floor Plan, College of Preachers, Washington Cathedral. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Lower Floor Plan, College of Preachers, Washington Cathedral. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
South and East Elevations, Memorial Wing of Cathedral Library, 1924. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
First and Second Floor Plans, Memorial Wing of Cathedral Library, 1924. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Washington National Cathedral Earthquake Repairs, Phase I: Apse East End and Interior Restoration, 2013. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Washington Cathedral, Main Floor Seating Plan, 1993. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
West Front and Towers, Washington Cathedral, 1974. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Scale Details of Gablets for Tower Buttresses, West Front and Towers, Washington Cathedral, 1973. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Main Floor Plan, Washington Cathedral, 1964. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Central Tower, Washington Cathedral, Diagrammatic Section Looking East, Showing Location of Bells and Carillon, 1961. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
South Transept Elevation and Sections, Washington Cathedral, 1951. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Study for Bishop’s Throne, Washington Cathedral, 1939. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Organ Case North Side of Choir, Washington Cathedral, 1937. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Elevation on Chapel Side and Section Through Choir Stalls, Washington Cathedral, 1937. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Choir, Transepts and Nave, Triforium and Gallery Plans, 1931. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Transepts Looking East, Washington Cathedral, 1926. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.
Ground Plan, Washington Cathedral, 1907. Courtesy of Washington National Cathedral Construction Archives Collection, National Building Museum Collection.