The Octagon Dr. William Thornton, Architect. Drawings and Text Made under Direction of Glenn Brown

E-117: American Institute of Architects. Very Good. 1917. Portfolio. Hardcover. Elefant Folio. American Institute of Architects, Washington, DC. 1917. 30 plates, with the title page as plate #2 and plate #1 in color. First Edition/First Printing. Issued in 3/4 green cloth slipcase. Slip-case has light shelf-wear present. Bound in loose portfolio. Text lightly toned and foxed. Boards have light shelf-wear present to the extremities. No ownership marks present. Text is clean and free of marks. Binding tight and solid. Dr. William Thornton (May 20, 1759 – March 28, 1828) was a British-American physician, inventor, painter and architect who designed the United States Capitol. He also served as the first Architect of the Capitol and first Superintendent of the United States Patent Office. It was during this time he was asked to design a mansion for Colonel John Tayloe. The Tayloe House, also known as The Octagon House, in Washington, D. C. , was erected between 1799 and 1800. It served as a temporary "Executive Mansion" after the 1814 burning of the White House by the British and the house's study was where President Madison signed the Treaty of Ghent ending the War of 1812. In 1899 the building was acquired by the American Institute of Architects, whose national headquarters now nestles behind it. The Octagon House is purported to be one of the most haunted homes in D. C. E-117; Elephant Folio 23" tall .