The Filson Historical Society Blog

The D. X. Murphy & Bro., Architects records are comprised mostly of architectural records and drawings created by D. X. Murphy and his firm as well as a few plans by his mentor Henry Whitestone.

The Filson is pleased to announce that after years of preservation and cataloging efforts, the D. X. Murphy & Bro., Architects Records (1854 – 1949) are complete and open to researchers.

This massive collection of historical architectural drawings and business records documents 95 years of Louisville’s rich architectural history, mainly through the business records and drawings generated by two of the city’s most renowned architects: Henry Whitestone (1819–1893) and D. X. Murphy (1853–1933).  (Whitestone was famous for his work on the original Galt House and the L & N headquarters (located at the corner of Main & Seconds Streets which now anchors Whiskey Row) while Murphy’s firm was responsible for the iconic grandstand and twin spires at Churchill Downs and today is still extant as Luckett & Farley, Inc.).

Many of the grand buildings which once graced downtown, Broadway, and residential areas are documented in this collection, providing an invaluable glimpse of Louisville’s former architectural landscape. Additionally, a variety of late-19^th and early-20^th century Louisville building contractors and businesses are represented in the collection which provides valuable information on regional businesses, industry and technology, as well as substantive insights into architectural and decorative arts.

Filson intern Lena Gimbel arranging architectural drawings.

While most of the drawings in the collection are in excellent condition, a number of them have become severely brittle with time as well as exposure to fluctuating environment conditions, which hastened the breakdown of the papers’ composition.  Until rescued in the 1970s by local preservationists and historians Mary Jean Kinsman and Penny Jones, the collection resided for years in the turret of the old Louisville Trust building where it was exposed to the elements and an overly cozy population of pigeons.  The fragile nature of the collection as well as the dense amount of historical information it contains, made processing and stabilizing the historical drawings a slow process.

Lori Wilson sorting archival business records.

This work could not have been completed without the assistance of two dedicated, patient interns, Lori Wilson and Lena Gimbel, both of whom worked at the Filson while completing their Master’s in History at the University of Louisville.  Lori Wilson surveyed, arranged, re-housed and described project files, correspondence, business records, and account books associated with the D.X. Murphy & Bro. architectural firm and its predecessor Henry Whitestone.  Lena Gimbel indexed, preserved, and described architectural drawings representing nine decades of the area’s residences, churches, and medical, industrial, commercial, and federal buildings.

The two plus years it’s taken to process the D. X. Murphy & Bro., Architects collection have been an exciting and rewarding experience in building community and connections between historians, archivists, students, and architects all the while exposing a rich historical treasure for researchers.

(Top) The 100-block along the north side of Main Street familiarly known as “Whiskey Row,” looking west. Photo circa 1900, unknown photographer, Brown-Walker Family photo collection. (Bottom) Current view of Whiskey Row: eastern portion of block boarded up while its fate was the topic of much public debate (the corner building at 101-103 W. Main collapsed in 2001). Photo by author.

Developers, preservationists, and many Louisville citizens issued a collective sigh of relief this week upon Mayor Fischer’s announcement that “Whiskey Row” will not be demolished.  Five buildings of this historic block on Main Street, which could have seen seven buildings demolished as early as next week, will now be saved.  Whiskey Row is a beautiful example of Louisville’s historic architecture that plays an integral role in understanding and honoring our city’s history and future.

From the mid-nineteenth to the early- twentieth century, this block was the thriving center of Louisville’s whiskey economy.  It housed a variety of whiskey rectifying and blending houses, barrel warehouses, whiskey brokerages, and corporate headquarters for renowned local businesses Brown-Forman, Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing Co., and the L & N Railroad Company.  The buildings were all constructed between the years 1857 and 1905, many with cast-iron storefronts (a load-bearing façade composed of prefabricated, cast parts which allowed the designers to maximize street-level windows).  Second only to New York City, Louisville is home to the finest assemblage of cast-iron architecture in the United States.  This block features a variety of architectural styles, designed by celebrated architects such as Henry Whitestone (Galt House), John Andrewartha (City Hall), and D. X. Murphy (Churchill Downs).  Of note is the “Old Prentice Distillery” building at 107-109 W. Main (third from the right in the ca. 1900 picture). Designed by D.X. Murphy and built in 1905, this building is evocative of the Chicago School style and appears strikingly contemporary when sandwiched between the revivalist-style buildings of the period. The Old Prentice building and the adjacent D. Sachs & Sons building (to the east) have been deemed structurally unsound and are slated for demolition, though the facades will be preserved.  Given the architectural legacy of Whiskey Row and its significant role in Kentucky’s distilling history, the Louisville Landmark Commission designated it a historic landmark in 2010.

In 2010, property owner Todd Blue announced his intent to demolish the buildings and develop the site.  Just this week, thanks to the generosity and activism of Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown, the Downtown Development Corporation, and several anonymous investors along with local preservationists and Metro Government, a deal was made with developer Todd Blue to save five of the seven architectural gems.  The Main Street-facing facades of the two remaining buildings will be preserved and incorporated into future development of the lot.

Interested in learning more about preservation and historic architecture?  Starting Thursday, the Filson Historical Society will host a three-day conference called “The Legacy of Buildings: Learning from Historic Structures.”

IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently awarded The Filson Historical Society the Connecting to Collections Bookshelf.  This grant includes a set of preservation resources (mainly texts) which is intended to assist museums, libraries, and archives in caring for their unique collections.

The retail value for the ‘bookshelf’ of materials is over $800, and some publications are not available elsewhere.

The informational resources cover many topics, including but not limited to:
-    caring for prints and drawings
-    saving damaged objects in the aftermath of an emergency
-    long-term, preservation-quality storage for digital media
-    caring for and exhibiting culturally sensitive materials
-    balancing display & care of historic materials while providing public access

The Filson is thrilled to receive this wonderful grant!  Not only will this resource help safeguard The Filson collection, but also, it will be a great reference to share with patrons interested in learning to care for their family treasures.  Please feel free to stop by the Special Collections department and browse the bookshelf.  Together we can extend the impact of this generous grant by preserving our heritage for generations to come.

On August 4, the greater Louisville area experienced massive rainfall and flooding. Many institutions, such as the Louisville Free Public Library and the Kentucky Derby Museum, suffered extensive damage. (Fortunately, the Filson made it through the flood with no damage to its collections.) Undoubtedly, personal papers and photographs still in the hands of individuals and families were harmed as well. The flood and its aftermath raise many questions about the emergency response and salvage of flood-damaged materials. Below are tips for the care of personal papers, books, and photographs that have been water damaged. Conduct salvage response within 48 hours for greater success.

Scene from the 1937 flood in Louisville, Kentucky.

The following tips are drawn from publications of the Heritage Emergency National Task Force. For more information you can visit the task force’s recovery website or call a local conservation or preservation specialist.

Books:

• If the book is partially wet or damp, stand it on its top or bottom edge with covers opened to 90-degree angles and air dry. A fan will speed drying.
• If the book is very wet, lay it flat on a clean surface; interleave less than 20% of the book with absorbent material. Replace interleaving when damp.
• If rinsing the book is necessary, hold book closed.
• If you have too many books to air dry in 48 hours:  wrap in freezer or waxed paper, pack spine down in a sturdy container, and freeze.*

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