Stanford White

Architect

About

From relatively humble beginnings, Stanford White's architectural career blossomed when he joined Charles McKim and William Rutherford Mead as a junior partner. They quickly secured a series of summer houses for the rich and very rich. He could draw easily and enjoyed designing interiors, two qualities which helped him to succeed.

His personal life was very colorful. Though married, he seems to have enjoyed the attentions of young teenage girls who came from fragile social and financial situations. There was a room in his multistory apartment painted green with a red velvet swing where he would take them. He did belong to a sex club of wealthy gentlemen which organized frequent secret orgies. He may also have been gay which didn't seem to have bothered his firm. One night at Madison Square Garden which he designed, while entertaining chorus girl Elinor Nesbitt, he was murdered by her husband Harry K. Thaw.

Born, Nov 9, 1853

Murdered, June 25, 1906

Factoids

White has been credited with designing the tower at Trinity Church while in Richardson's office.

June 25, 1906 -The second Madison Square Garden designed by Stanford White had a rooftop garden that was enjoyed by the Gilded Age New Yorkers. It is also where White met his own demise. While enjoying a musical performance on the roof, White was murdered by Harry K. Thaw, a jealous rival in a love triangle that encompassed Thaw, White, and the young model Evelyn Nesbit.

Related People / Organizations

Henry Hobson Richardson,Joining the office at 18 as a apprentice draftsman, his skills at drawing and his ability to design interiors allowed him to advance in the practice.

Related Playlist

Audubon Terrace Historic District Compilation

Nathan Hale (City Hall Park) Compilation

Timeline

1776

1835

1879

1889

1894

1895

1898

1900

1908

1909

1910

1914

SITES

16 ResultsShow less

The Horse Tamers

Stanford White, Frederick MacMonnies

Sculpture

The Army: Genius of Patriotism Urging American Soldiers On To Victory

Frederick MacMonnies, Stanford White

Sculpture

The Navy: American Sailors At Sea Urged On By the Genius of Patriotism

Frederick MacMonnies, Stanford White

Sculpture

James S.T. Stranahan

Frederick MacMonnies, Stanford White

Sculpture

General Henry Warner Slocum

Frederick MacMonnies, Stanford White

Sculpture

Maryland Monument

Stanford White

Sculpture

George Washington / Wisdom and Justice

Stanford White, Alexander Stirling Calder

Sculpture

Washington Square Arch

Alexander Stirling Calder, Stanford White

Memorial

Madison Square Garden

Stanford White, Thomas W. Lamb, Charles Luckman Associates, BBB (Brisbin Brook Beynon) Architects

Cultural, Performance Space

Phillips Brooks

Stanford White, Charles Follen McKim, Boston Art Commission, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Henry Hobson Richardson

Sculpture

Nathan Hale (City Hall Park)

Frederick MacMonnies, Stanford White

Sculpture

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church

James Renwick, Jr., Rafael Gustavino, McKim, Mead & White, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Herbert Adams, Philip Martiny, Stanford White, Bertram Goodhue

Place of Worship, Relief

23 Park Avenue

McKim, Mead & White

Residential

Municipal Building

McKim, Mead & White, Rafael Gustavino, WASA/Studio A (Wank Adams Slavin Assocs.)

Workplace

Cable Building

McKim, Mead & White

Cultural

Payne Whitney House

McKim, Mead & White

Residential, Cultural

Related Sites

1 ResultShow less

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS

2 ResultsShow less

This is one of the few photos of the three partners pouring over drawings.

Signatures

PLAYLISTS CURATED by Stanford White

2 ResultsShow less

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37-24, 24th St, Suite 102, Long Island City, NY 11101