Mills, Robert, 1781-1855

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Architect. A native of South Carolina, Mills lived in Charleston until about 1800 and later made his home in Washington, D.C.

From the description of Account of George Washington's visit to Charleston, S.C., 1791 May 2. (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 36865419

Engineer, architect of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.

From the description of Letter : to George Bancroft, 1845 Sept. 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 22632349

From the description of Letter : Philadelphia, to Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, 1814 Jan. 28. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 22632307

American architect.

From the description of Architectural drawing of Farmington [manuscript], ca. 1855. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647810516

Engineer, architect of the Washington Monument, in Washington, D.C.

From the description of Letter : to Jefferson Davis, Washington, 1854 Aug. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 22638900

Architect born in or near Charleston, South Carolina, the son of William Mills, a well-to-do tailor. Robert Mills resided in Charleston until about 1800, then again in 1804 and 1817, and from 1820 until 1829. Robert Mills then made his home in Washington, D.C. until his death in 1855. Mills married Eliza Barnwell Smith, and their daughter was Anna, who married Fortunatus Cosby. A prominent architect, Mills designed numerous structures in Charleston, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. He is best known as the architect of the Washington Monument.

From the description of Robert Mills papers, 1833-1849. (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 32139813

South Carolina architect.

From the description of Robert Mills papers, 1803-1856. (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 32141660

Architect and engineer of Charleston, S.C.; designs include Circular Congregational Church and County Records Office [Fireproof Building], Charleston, S.C.; Hampton-Preston House [Ainsley Hall], Columbia, S.C.; Bank of the U.S. and portions of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pa.; Washington National Monument, Washington, D.C.; son of William Mills.

From the description of Robert Mills papers, 1822-1965. (University of South Carolina). WorldCat record id: 41868238

Architect and engineer.

From the description of Papers of Robert Mills, 1804-1862 (bulk 1830-1850). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71070043

Mills was an architect who worked in South Carolina, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.

From the description of Papers, 1808-1853. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 122568239

Architect.

From the description of William E. and Mary M. Murphy collection of Robert Mills journals and papers, 1787-1880 (bulk [ca. 1802-ca. 1845]). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82680969

Robert Mills (1781-1855), a native of South Carolina, was the first American-born and -trained professional architect. He learned his trade from James Hoban and Benjamin Latrobe and from extensive reading in the library of Thomas Jefferson. Mills worked with Latrobe in Philadelphia. From 1815-1820, he worked in Baltimore, where he had moved in order to supervise the construction of his design for a monument to Washington in that city. In 1830, he settled in Washington, D.C. and became Architect of Public Buildings, as a result of which he designed a number of government buildings, including the Treasury Building and the Washington Monument. Mills' wife, Eliza Barnwell Smith of Virginia, was a distant relative of Richard Potts.

The Potts house was completed in 1819; it was located at the southeast corner of Court Square in Frederick, Maryland. In 1894, another story was added. In 1946, the house was subdivided into apartments. The house was still standing and inhabited in 1982.

From the description of Architectural drawings for Richard Potts house, 1817. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 261233358

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. [Chesterfield District, South Carolina / surveyed by John Lowry, 1819 ; improved for Mill's Atlas, 1825]. Library of Congress
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Architectural drawing of Farmington [manuscript], ca. 1855. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Wright, W. Lloyd (William Lloyd), 1876-1950,. W. Lloyd Wright papers. George Washington University
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Robert Mills papers, 1803-1856. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Washington Monument Souvenir [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Papers of Robert Mills incl. correspondence regarding monuments in Washington, D.C. [manuscript] 1812-1934 and 1812-14. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Robert Mills papers, 1822-1965. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Bunch, Tighlman Howard, 1899-. Papers of the Bunch, Crease, Lewis, Warwick and related Virginia families [manuscript] (1799) 1823-1965. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Letter : to Jefferson Davis, Washington, 1854 Aug. George Washington University
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Account of George Washington's visit to Charleston, S.C., 1791 May 2. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Horry District, South Carolina / surveyed by Harlee, 1820 : improved for Mills' Atlas 1825. Library of Congress
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. William E. and Mary M. Murphy collection of Robert Mills journals and papers, 1787-1880 (bulk [ca. 1802-ca. 1845]). Maryland State Archives
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Papers, 1808-1853. Winterthur Library
creatorOf Pope, John Russell, 1874-1937. Washington, D.C. [model] : Jefferson Memorial, U.S. Capitol, Wash. Monument. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Papers pertaining to Robert Mills [manuscript], 1826-1954. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Letter : to George Bancroft, 1845 Sept. 16. George Washington University
creatorOf Baird, Thomas E.,. Collection of miscellaneous southern historical papers [manuscript], 1778-1864. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Mills, Robert, 1781-1855 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Robert Mills papers, 1833-1849. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Marion District, North Carolina / surveyed by Thos Harlee, D.S., 1818 ; improved for Mill's Atlas, 1825. Library of Congress
referencedIn Chew family. Chew Family papers, 1659-1986 (bulk 1740-1930). Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Washington Monument, Washington D.C. [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
referencedIn Chew family. Papers, 1683-1896. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Robert Mills family letters Archives of American Art
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. [Papers of Robert Mills] [microfiche manuscript]. Ball State University Library, Bracken Library
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Lancaster District, South Carolina / surveyed by J. Boykin, 1820 ; improved for Mills' atlas, 1825 ; enga. by H.S. Tanner & Assistants. Library of Congress
referencedIn Payne, David. The Aiken-Rhett House and the Robert Mills connection : typescript, 1995 / David Payne. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Ed gefield [sic] District, South Carolina / surveyed by Thos. Anderson, 1817 : improved for Mills' Atlas, 1825. Library of Congress
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Charleston District, South Carolina / surveyed by Charles Vignoles & Henry Ravenel, 1820 ; improved for Mills' Atlas. Library of Congress
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Washington Monument, Washington D.C. [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Hall, Ainsley, 1783-1823. Ainsley Hall papers, 1809-1828. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn John Julius Dargan papers, 1785-1965 (bulk, 1877-1940). University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Washington Monument, Washington, D.C., souvenir [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. The papers of Roberts Mills, 1781-1855 [microform] / Pamela Scott, editor. University of Missouri -- Columbia, MU Libraries; University of Missouri; MU; Ellis Library; University of Missouri Columbia
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Richland District, South Carolina / surveyed by Marmaduke Coates, 1820 ; improved by Mills' atlas, 1825. Library of Congress
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Pendleton District, South Carolina / surveyed by Scribling, 1820 ; improved for Mills' atlas, 1825. Library of Congress
creatorOf Robert Mills Papers, 1804-1862, (bulk 1830-1850) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn McNeil, James A. Robert Mills lecture, 1984. South Carolina Historical Society
referencedIn Robert Mills family letters Archives of American Art
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Spartanburgh District, South Carolina / surveyed by J. Whitten, 1820 : improved for Mills' atlas. Library of Congress
referencedIn Shutze, Philip Trammell. Papers, 1880-1982. Atlanta History Center, Kenan Research Center / Cherokee Garden Library
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. [Orangeburgh District, South Carolina] / surveyed by B. Busby, 1820 ; improved for Mills' atlas, 1825]. Library of Congress
creatorOf Thornton, William, 1759-1828. U.S. Capitol, Washington D.C, Washington Monument [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Greenville District, South Carolina / surveyed by George Salmon, 1820 : improved for Mills' atlas. Library of Congress
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Papers of Robert Mills [manuscript] 1812-1934. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Union District, South Carolina / surveyed by R. Thompson, 1820 : improved for Mills' altas, 1825. Library of Congress
referencedIn Ambler family. Papers, 1772-1852. Virginia Historical Society Library
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Sumter District, South Carolina / surveyed by S.H. Boykin, 1821 ; improved for Mills' atlas. Library of Congress
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Christ Church Parish, So. Ca. : [Charleston District] / from Mill's Atlas of South Carolina ; traced at the Coast Survey Office for the Engineer Dept., April 1863. Library of Congress
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Washington's Monument [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Letter, 1831. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. York District, South Carolina / surveyed by Gordon Moore, 1820 : improved for Mills' atlas, 1825. Library of Congress
referencedIn Robert Mills : vertical file. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Robert Mills papers, 1803-1853 (inclusive), [microform]., 1803-1853 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Georgetown District, South Carolina / surveyed by Wm. Hemingway, 1820 ; improved for Mills' Atlas. Library of Congress
referencedIn Mills, William, d. 1802. William Mills will, 1802. South Carolina Historical Society
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Letter : Philadelphia, to Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, 1814 Jan. 28. George Washington University
creatorOf Thornton, William, 1759-1828. [United States Capitol and Washington Memorial] [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Architectural drawings for Richard Potts house, 1817. Winterthur Library
referencedIn Thomas Jefferson Papers, 1606-1943, (bulk 1775-1826) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Barnwell District, South Carolina / surveyed by Thos. Anderson, D.S., 1818 ; improved for Mills Atlas, 1825. Library of Congress
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Newberry District, South Carolina / surveyed by M. Coate, 1820 ; improved for Mills' atlas. Library of Congress
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Lantern slides, ca. 1910 [manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Colleton District, South Carolina / surveyed by Saml. A. Ruddock, 1820 ; improved for Mills' Atlas, 1825. Library of Congress
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter to Robert Mills [manuscript] 1820 June 22. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. ALS, 1826 March 3, Monticello, to Robert Mills. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Darlington District, South Carolina : improved for Mills' Atlas, 1820 ; enga by H.S. Tanner & assistants. Library of Congress
creatorOf Mills, Robert, 1781-1855. Washington Monument [model]. Centre canadien d'architecture, | Canadian Centre for Architecture | CCA
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Ambler family. family
associatedWith Anderson, Thomas, surveyor. person
associatedWith Bancroft, George, 1800-1891. person
associatedWith Boykin, J. person
associatedWith Boykin, S. H. person
associatedWith Bunch, Tighlman Howard, 1899- person
associatedWith Busby, B. person
associatedWith Cheville, A. person
associatedWith Chew family. family
associatedWith Chew family. family
associatedWith Coates, Marmaduke. person
associatedWith Cosby, Anna L. Mills, 1819-1864. person
associatedWith Dargan, John Julius, 1848-1925. person
associatedWith Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889. person
associatedWith Delaplaine, Joseph, 1777-1824. person
associatedWith Evans, John, 1814-1897, person
associatedWith Farmington (Albemarle County, Va. : Estate) corporateBody
associatedWith Fireproof Building, Charleston, S.C. corporateBody
correspondedWith Grimké, Thomas Smith, 1786-1834 person
correspondedWith Hall, Ainsley, 1783-1823. person
associatedWith Harlee, Thomas. person
associatedWith Henry Clay (Ship) corporateBody
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
correspondedWith Legaré, Hugh Swinton, 1797-1843 person
associatedWith McNeil, James A. person
associatedWith Mills, Eliza Barnwell Smith, 1784-1865. person
associatedWith Mills family. family
associatedWith Mills family. family
associatedWith Mills Family family
associatedWith Mills Family. family
associatedWith Mills Family. family
associatedWith Mills, Mary Powell, 1816-1894. person
associatedWith Mills, William, d. 1802. person
associatedWith Moore, Gordon. person
associatedWith Owen, Robert Dale, 1801-1877. person
associatedWith Patterston, George, person
associatedWith Payne, David. person
associatedWith Peale's Museum (Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Phelps, Noah Amherst, 1788-1872 person
associatedWith Potts, Richard. person
associatedWith Pye, James B. person
associatedWith Ravenel, Henry. person
associatedWith Schelten, B. person
associatedWith Scott, Pamela. person
associatedWith Scribling. person
associatedWith Shutze, Philip Trammell. person
associatedWith Smith, G. M., person
associatedWith Smithsonian Institution. corporateBody
correspondedWith Snowden, Yates, 1858-1933 person
associatedWith South Carolina. General Assembly. Senate. corporateBody
associatedWith South Carolina Historical Society. corporateBody
correspondedWith Spencer, John C. person
associatedWith Tanner, Henry Schenck, 1786-1858. person
correspondedWith Taylor, Benjamin Ogle person
associatedWith Thompson, R. person
associatedWith United States. Architect of the Capitol. corporateBody
associatedWith United States Capitol (Washington, D.C.) corporateBody
associatedWith Vignoles, Charles Blacker, 1793-1875. person
associatedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799. person
associatedWith Whitten, T. person
correspondedWith Wilson, Charles S. person
associatedWith Wright, W. Lloyd (William Lloyd), 1876-1950, person
associatedWith Zane, Sarah, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Horry County (S.C.)
Boston (Mass.)
Orangeburg County (S.C.)
South Carolina
Columbia (S.C.)
Pennsylvania--Philadelphia
United States
Colleton County (S.C.)
Annapolis (Md.)
Newberry County (S.C.)
Richland County (S.C.)
Maryland--Frederick
Maryland
York County (S.C.)
New Haven (Conn.)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Sumter County (S.C.)
Edgefield County (S.C.)
Charleston (S.C.)
Maryland--Baltimore
Virginia--Richmond
Charleston (S.C.)
Barnwell County (S.C.)
Charleston (S.C.)
Washington (D.C.)
Portland (Me.)
Greenville County (S.C.)
Chesterfield County (S.C.)
Lancaster County (S.C.)
Charleston County (S.C.)
Washington (D.C.)
Albany (N.Y.)
United States
United States
Baltimore (Md.)
Anderson County (S.C.)
South Carolina
Washington (D.C.)
Maryland
Darlington County (S.C.)
South Carolina
Marion County (S.C.)
East (U.S.)
Baltimore (Md.)
Wilmington (Del.)
Richmond (Va.)
Maryland--Baltimore (Md.)
Washington (D.C.)
Columbia (S.C.)
Union County (S.C.)
South Carolina--John's Island
Virginia
Washington (D.C.)
South Carolina
Frederick (Md.)
Virginia--Albemarle County
Spartanburg County (S.C.)
Charleston County (S.C.)
South Carolina.
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Washington (D.C.)
Annapolis (Md.)
Georgetown County (S.C.)
United States
South Carolina
United States
Subject
Architecture, Domestic
United States
Architects
Architects
Architects
Architectural drawings
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Architecture
Atlases
Brick
Building materials
Engineering
Engineers
Historic buildings
House construction
Mastodon
Mills, Robert
Monuments
Monuments
Monuments
Real property
Public buildings
Public buildings
Public buildings
Public buildings
Railroads
Retail trade
Travelers
Washington Monument (Washington, D.C.)
Occupation
Architect
Architects
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Person

Birth 1781-08-12

Death 1855-03-03

Americans

English

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