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CAMERON CLARK
ARCHITECT
MERWIN'S LANE
101 PARK AVENUE
SoUTHPORT. CONNECTICUT
NEW YORK CITY
April 18, 1949
Mr. Donald F. Carpenter,
Chairman, Munitions Board,
The Pentagon,
Washington, D. C.
ARCHIVES RECORDS AND
Dear Don:
You have asked me what qualifications I might
have for such a job as the Commission for the Alteration
of the White House.
Since M.I.T. days, where I was a regular and
graduate student, I have been a continual student of the
architecture of our Colonial and Federal periods. My
experience has been mainly on residential projects, and
a large proportion on the alteration and restoration
of
houses in those periods and designs of houses inspired
by the best of that era. The White House is one of our
outstanding examples and should be restored not only in
the spirit, but as a livable structur e embodying all of
the comforts of modern life. It should be a comfortable
home for the Prosident.
The Architectural League some years ago gave
me a citation for residential work in this manner, and
the Institute of Architects, in awarding me Fellowship in
the Institute, cited this as one of the reasons for the
advancement
My experience was gained in the best offices
of
Boston and New York. Also by travel of two years in
Europe on the Rotch Traveling Scholarship, and as a resi-
dent at the American Academy in Rome.
Perhaps no one has been more familiar with my
work over the years since 1916 than William Hammett Davis,
one of my first clients. He thought of me when the suggested
Commission was first broached.
You have known many of the structures in Fairfield
County, also the clients who have been served. I think you
will agree that the technique used in the new structures,
the restoration and alteration of the old, would be of great
assistance in the work on the White House.
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"ocrText": "CAMERON CLARK\nARCHITECT\nMERWIN'S LANE\n101 PARK AVENUE\nSoUTHPORT. CONNECTICUT\nNEW YORK CITY\nApril 18, 1949\nMr. Donald F. Carpenter,\nChairman, Munitions Board,\nThe Pentagon,\nWashington, D. C.\nARCHIVES RECORDS AND\nDear Don:\nYou have asked me what qualifications I might\nhave for such a job as the Commission for the Alteration\nof the White House.\nSince M.I.T. days, where I was a regular and\ngraduate student, I have been a continual student of the\narchitecture of our Colonial and Federal periods. My\nexperience has been mainly on residential projects, and\na large proportion on the alteration and restoration\nof\nhouses in those periods and designs of houses inspired\nby the best of that era. The White House is one of our\noutstanding examples and should be restored not only in\nthe spirit, but as a livable structur e embodying all of\nthe comforts of modern life. It should be a comfortable\nhome for the Prosident.\nThe Architectural League some years ago gave\nme a citation for residential work in this manner, and\nthe Institute of Architects, in awarding me Fellowship in\nthe Institute, cited this as one of the reasons for the\nadvancement\nMy experience was gained in the best offices\nof\nBoston and New York. Also by travel of two years in\nEurope on the Rotch Traveling Scholarship, and as a resi-\ndent at the American Academy in Rome.\nPerhaps no one has been more familiar with my\nwork over the years since 1916 than William Hammett Davis,\none of my first clients. He thought of me when the suggested\nCommission was first broached.\nYou have known many of the structures in Fairfield\nCounty, also the clients who have been served. I think you\nwill agree that the technique used in the new structures,\nthe restoration and alteration of the old, would be of great\nassistance in the work on the White House."
}