Downing, W. T. (Walter Thomas), 1865-1918.

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Walter T. Downing (1865-1918) was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with his mother in 1876. He worked as a draftsman for Hannibal I. Kimball from 1884-1885 and then as an apprentice at the architectural firm, L. B. Wheeler and Company. Downing formed the firm W. T. Downing, Architect, in 1890. He won the design award for the Fine Arts Building for the Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895. He was responsible for designing several of Atlanta's oldest extant churches including Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1898), Trinity United Methodist Church (1911), and First Presbyterian Church (1919). Downing designed office buildings for the Fairlie Poplar district in Atlanta with architect Thomas Morgan. He also designed buildings at Oglethorpe University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Shorter University in Rome, Georgia, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Downing changed his focus to residences, and in 1897 he published Domestic Architecture. He is best known for his designs of private residences in Atlanta including the Wimbish House (1898); the Frank Ellis House (1910-1914); the John Grant House (1921); and the Dodson House (1915-1918). He died in 1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after being struck by an automobile.

From the description of Walter T. Downing visual arts materials, 1865-1899, undated. (Atlanta History Center). WorldCat record id: 768891891

Walter T. Downing (1865-1918) was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with his mother in 1876. He worked as a draftsman for Hannibal I. Kimball from 1884-1885 and then as an apprentice at the architectural firm, L. B. Wheeler and Company. Downing formed the firm W. T. Downing, Architect, in 1890. He won the design award for the Fine Arts Building for the Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895. He was responsible for designing several of Atlanta's oldest extant churches including Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1898), Trinity United Methodist Church (1918), and First Presbyterian Chruch (1919). Downing designed office buildings for the Fairlie Poplar District in Atlanta with architect Thomas Morgan. He also designed buildings at Oglethorpe University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Shorter University in Rome, Georgia, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Downing changed his focus to residences, and in 1897 he published Domestic Architecture. He is best known for is designs of private residences in Atlanta including the Wimbish House (1898); the Frank Ellis House (1910-1914); the John Grant House (1921); and the Dodson House (1915-1918). He died in 1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after being struck by an automobile.

From the description of Walter T. Downing letter and travel article, 1895, undated. (Atlanta History Center). WorldCat record id: 768891973

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Downing, W. T. (Walter Thomas), 1865-1918. Walter T. Downing letter and travel article, 1895, undated. Atlanta History Center, Kenan Research Center / Cherokee Garden Library
creatorOf Downing, W. T. (Walter Thomas), 1865-1918. Walter T. Downing visual arts materials, 1865-1899, undated. Atlanta History Center, Kenan Research Center / Cherokee Garden Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bradley, Horace, 1862-1896. person
associatedWith Cotton States Exposition (1895 : Atlanta, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Piedmont Driving Club (Atlanta, Ga.) corporateBody
associatedWith Wasmuth, Ernst, 1845-1897. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Georgia--Atlanta
Piedmont Park (Atlanta, Ga.)
Subject
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Art
Collotype
Lithography
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1865

Death 1918

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