Whitestone, Henry (1819-1893) Architectural Sketch and Account Books, 1856-1871

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator: Henry Whitestone, 1819-1893

Title: Architectural Sketch and Account Books, 1856-1871

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for this collection, contact the Curator of Special Collections.

Size of Collection: 0.33 cubic feet, or 10 volumes

Locator Number: Mss. BB W594

Scope and Content Note

Collection is comprised of ten notebooks kept by Henry Whitestone between the years 1856-1871. Half of the notebooks contain sketches, details, measurements, and lists of supplies related to a variety of architectural projects in Louisville, KY. (Please note: not all sketches and measurements are directly identified to projects by Whitestone.) The remaining half of the notebooks serve as account books for specific projects. Theses account books reflect the receipt and disbursement of monies as well as payroll, contractors, and costs of supplies. Projects of note include the second Galt House, Thomas H. Hunt residence, House of Refuge, and the Merchants Bank of Kentucky. All architectural projects are located in Louisville, KY.

Provenance Note

This collection was found in the basement of the Louisville Fiscal Court Building. Materials found with the collection indicate that it came from the Old Louisville Trust Building, office of the architectural firm D. X. Murphy &Bros., the firm which succeeded Henry Whitestone. In 1962, D. X. Murphy & Bros. changed their name to Luckett and Farley, Inc. and relocated to the Washington Building on 4th and Market Streets, but neglected to move the Whitestone notebooks to their new location. The collection was sent from the Fiscal Court Building to the Jefferson County Office of Historic Preservation and Archives and in April 1986 was donated to the Filson Historical Society.

Biographical Note

Henry Whitestone (1819-1893) was born in County Clare, Ireland. Whitestone worked as an architect in Ireland before he came to the United States in 1852. Upon arriving in the United States, he worked out of Cincinnati with noted hotel architect, Isaiah Rogers. Rogers and Whitestone opened offices in Louisville in the 1850s. Rogers continued to work primarily in Cincinnati while Whitestone worked out of Louisville. They were commissioned to design the expansion and redesign of the Louisville Hotel after it was badly damaged by a fire in 1853. The partnership dissolved in 1857 when Rogers took a position in Washington, D. C. Whitestone opened his own firm in Louisville. He worked on the enlargement of the first Galt House. He designed homes for some of Louisville’s most affluent families. During the United States Civil War Whitestone was commissioned by the Union Army to build the commissary bakery in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Whitestone is best remembered for his work on the Galt House, located at First & Main Streets, which he completed in 1869, but should also be credited for his great variety of commercial, residential, public, and institutional designs throughout Louisville. Whitestone welcomed D. X. Murphy into his firm in 1874. Murphy took control of the firm when Whitestone retired in 1881. He later renamed the firm D. X. Murphy & Bro., Architects. Today, the firm operates under the name Luckett & Farley, Inc. Whitestone was married to Henrietta Sautelle Baker of Ireland. The couple had two daughters, Austine and Henrietta.

Folder List

Volume 1: Thomas H. Hunt house, 2 and Walnut Streets, Account Book, 1856-1858

Volume 2: Sketch Book with notes, 1859

Volume 3: Sketch Book, 1860-1864

Volume 4: House of Refuge, Third Street, Account Book, 1860-1865

Volume 5: Merchants Bank of Kentucky, 176 W. Main St., Account Book, 1865-1866

Volume 6: “New Hotel,”a.k.a. Galt House, Disbursement and Cash Account Book, 1866-1867

Volume 7: Sketch Book containing lists of supplies, notes, and detailed measurements, 1867

Volume 8: Sketch Book with details, measurements, and notes on various projects, 1868-1871

Volume 9: Mr. Caldwell’s stores, 3rd Street between Main and Market, Account Book, undated

Volume 10: Book of measurements and calculations, unidentified, undated

Subject Headings

Account books – Kentucky – Louisville

Architects – Kentucky – Louisville

Architecture – Designs and plans

Banks – Kentucky – Louisville – Buildings, structures, etc.

Building trades – Kentucky – Louisville

Contractors – Kentucky – Louisville

Galt House (Louisville, Ky.)

Hotels – Designs and plans

House of Refuge (Louisville, Ky.)

Hunt, Thomas H., 1815-1884

Merchants Bank of Kentucky (Louisville, Ky.)

Whitestone, Henry, 1819-1893