Robert W. Gibson, AIA, (1854 in England – 1927 in New York City) was an English-born American ecclesiastical architect active in late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century New York state. He designed several large Manhattan churches and a number of prominent residences and institutional buildings.
Life and career Robert Williams Gibson was born November 17, 1854, in Aveley, Essex, England, to Samuel Lodwick Gibson and Eliza (Williams) Gibson. In 1875 he entered the architectural school of the Royal Academy of Arts in London, graduating in 1879. Having been awarded a traveling scholarship, he spent the next two years traveling in Europe. He immigrated to the United States in 1881, initially settling in Albany, New York."Gibson, Robert Williams" in The National Cyclopedia of American Biography 11 (New York: James T. White & Company, 1909): 324. For his first four years in the United States he worked in partnership with William Pretyman, a decorator and designer, as Gibson & Pretyman. This partnership was dissolved in 1884, after which he worked independently for the rest of his career.
The dissolution of Gibson's partnership coincided with the start of construction of the new Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, having won a competition the previous year.Cornelia Brooke Gilder, "Robert W. Gibson" in Architects in Albany, ed. Diana S. Waite (Albany: Mount Ida Press, 2009): 38-39. A project of Bishop William Croswell Doane, the building was the first American Episcopal cathedral to be conceived on the scale of its European counterparts. The cathedral was to be built in phases, the first of which was completed in 1888. At that time the whole of the building was built only to a height of forty feet, with a temporary roof. All unnecessary exterior ornament was omitted. Gibson supervised a second phase beginning in 1902, and the choir and sanctuary were completed to their full height in 1904. A chapter house was also constructed at this time. Although further work was planned, the construction of the neighboring New York State Education Building and Doane's death prevented any additional construction work, and the cathedral is permanently incomplete.Albany Architecture, ed. Diana S. Waite (Albany: Mount Ida Press, 1993): 83-84.
In 1888, having completed the first phase of the cathedral and having been commissioned to design a bank for the United States Trust Company in New York, Gibson relocated to that city."Out Among the Builders," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 41, no. 1043 (March 10, 1888): 302. From these two projects Gibson developed specialties in both of these building types, and they were a mainstay of his practice for almost thirty years. Gibson practiced architecture in New York until at least 1915, apparently retiring afterward.
After winning the Albany competition, Gibson entered, but did not win, at least three more design competitions for major churches. His entry into the 1889 competition to design the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York drew from a variety of sources, with an overall effect of the Decorated period of English Gothic architecture."Illustrations," American Architect and Building News 26, no. 721 (October 19, 1889): 182-183. In 1902 he entered the preliminary competition to design the Liverpool Cathedral, but nothing is known of his proposal."The Liverpool Cathedral Competition," American Architect and Building News 77, no. 1392 (August 30, 1902): 66. Lastly, in 1906 he entered the competition to design the new St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York. Unlike his competitors, who proposed linear plans with entrances on Fifth Avenue, Gibson designed a building with a semicircular plan facing 53rd Street. His facade was based on the West Front of Peterborough Cathedral, with possible influences from Ely as well."Current Periodicals," Architectural Review 8, no. 6 (June 1906): 90-91. Other competitions entered included the New York Stock Exchange Building and Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, which was won by Cass Gilbert. Several competitors, including Gibson, alleged that Gilbert had conspired with Supervising Architect of the Treasury James Knox Taylor, his former business partner, to be awarded the commission."The Custom House Plans," New York Times, November 2, 1899, 2.
Gibson joined the American Institute of Architects in 1885 as a fellow."Robert W. Gibson (1854-1927)." aiahistoricaldirectory.atlassian.net. AIA Historical Directory of American Architects, n. d. Accessed November 12, 2021. He was a member of the AIA Board of Directors, and served two terms as president of the Architectural League of New York.
Personal life Gibson became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1887. After moving to New York, he married Caroline Hammond in 1890. They had four children: Robert Hammond Gibson, Lydia Gibson, Katherine (Gibson) Van Cortlandt and Hester (Gibson) Huntington. His son, R. Hammond Gibson, was a naval historian. Lydia, his eldest daughter, was an artist who would become a noted Socialist activist and was married to Communist leader Robert Minor. Hester, the youngest, was less public with her politics but was involved in the work of the International Labor Defense and made the news in 1939 when she bailed out jailed Communist leader Earl Browder."Gibson Girl," Time 34, no. 19 (November 6, 1939): 19.
Gibson was a member of the Century Association and the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club.
In 1923, in retirement, Gibson published The Morality of Nature, a philosophical work. He died August 17, 1927, at his home in Woodbury, New York."Robert W. Gibson, Architect, Dies," New York Times, August 19, 1927, 17.
Legacy At least eleven of Gibson's works have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, with others contributing to listed historic districts. Six more are designated New York City Landmarks.
Architectural works
Lodge, Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany, New York (1882) Mausoleum of John Augustus Griswold, Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York (1883)Diana S. Waite, The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2019) Chapel, Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany, New York (1884) Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, New York (1884–88 and 1902–04) House for George Evans, Albany, New York (1884, demolished) House for James E. Craig, Albany, New York (1885) Parish house of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension (former), Brooklyn, New York (1885, altered 1985 and 2018)"Buildings Projected," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 35, no. 894 (May 2 1885): 513. House for William E. Spier, Glens Falls, New York (1886, demolished)"Illustrations," American Architect and Building News 19, no. 535 (March 27 1886): 150. Trinity Episcopal Church (former), Gloversville, New York (1886) National Commercial Bank Building, Albany, New York (1887) "Notleymere" for Frank L. Norton, Cazenovia, New York (1887–88, NRHP 1991)Notleymere NRHP Registration Form (1991) Troy Club, Troy, New York (1887–88, demolished 1981) Christ Episcopal Church, Herkimer, New York (1888) Parish house of Christ Episcopal Church, Rochester, New York (1888, demolished 1923)Christ Church, Rochester, Western New York: A Story—Chronological, A. D. 1854–A. D. 1905 (Rochester: Christ Church, 1905) Rebuilding of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul, Buffalo, New York (1888–89, NRHP 1973, NHL 1987)St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral NRHP Registration Form (1973) St. Stephen Episcopal Church, Olean, New York (1888–90, NRHP 2001)St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Complex NRHP Registration Form (2002) United States Trust Company Building, New York, New York (1888, demolished)"Important Buildings Projected and Under Way," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 41, no. 1050 (April 28 1888): 529. 88 White Street, New York, New York (1889)"Buildings Projected," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 43, no. 1109 (June 15 1889): 859. Monument of Amasa J. Parker, Albany Rural Cemetery, Albany, New York (1889) Child's Hospital, Albany, New York (1890, demolished 1960)"A Child's Hospital for Albany," New York Times, October 19 1890, 10. Greenwich Savings Bank Building, New York, New York (1890, demolished)"Buildings Projected," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 946, no. 1171 (August 23 1890): 262. Randall Memorial Church, Sailors' Snug Harbor, Staten Island, New York (1890–92, demolished) Snug Harbor Music Hall, Sailors' Snug Harbor, Staten Island, New York (1890–92) St. Michael Episcopal Church, New York, New York (1890-91, NRHP 1996, NYCL 2016)"Out Among the Builders," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 45, no. 1148 (March 15 1890): 369. Grace Episcopal Church, Plainfield, New Jersey (1891–92, NRHP 2002)Grace Episcopal Church NRHP Registration Form (2002) Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Oyster Bay, New York (1891–92, NRHP 1974)Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club NRHP Registration Form (1974) Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company Building (former), Providence, Rhode Island (1891, demolished)"Bank at Providence, R. I.," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 47, no. 1195 (February 7 1891): 195. Trinity Episcopal Church, Ossining, New York (1891) West End Collegiate Church, New York, New York (1891–92, NRHP 1980, NYCL 1967)"Buildings Projected," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 48, no. 1216 (July 3 1891): 24. Christ Episcopal Church, Rochester, New York (1892–94, NRHP 2008) Church Missions House, New York, New York (1892–94, NRHP 1982, NYCL 1979)Church Missions House NRHP Registration Form (1982) St. John Episcopal Church, Northampton, Massachusetts (1892–93)"NTH.763." mhc-macris.net. Massachusetts Historical Commission, n. d. Accessed November 8 2021. Christ Episcopal Church, Corning, New York (1893–95) New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, New York (1893 et seq.)"Contracting Intelligence," Engineering Record 27, no. 14 (MArch 4 1893): 286. Norwich Savings Society Building, Norwich, Connecticut (1893–95) Coffee Exchange Building, New York, New York (1894, demolished)"Building Intelligence," Engineering Record 29, no. 15 (March 10 1894): 245. New York Clearing House Association Building, New York, New York (1894–96, demolished)William J. Gilpin and Henry E. Wallace, New York Clearing House Association, 1854-1905 (New York: Moses King, 1904) Bank of Buffalo Building, Buffalo, New York (1895, demolished)"Recent Brick and Terra-Cotta Work in American Cities," Brickbuilder 4, no. 7 (July 1895): 158. Onondaga County Savings Bank Building, Syracuse, New York (1896–97)"Building News," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 57, no. 1467 (May 16 1896): 837. LuEsther T. Mertz Library, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, New York (1897–1901, NYCL 2007)"Building News," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 60, no. 1532 (July 24 1897): 837. St. Luke Episcopal Church (former), Mechanicville, New York (1897–98) Savings Bank of Utica Building, Utica, New York (1898)"Building News," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 61, no. 1580 (June 25 1898): 1111. Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Raleigh, North Carolina (1899–1914)"North Carolina," Churchman 83, no. 15 (April 13 1901): 479. Hearst Hall, National Cathedral School, Washington, D.C. (1899–1900)Pamela Scott and Antoinette J. Lee, Buildings of the District of Columbia (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993): 386. Glastonbury Cathedra of the Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C. (1901)W. M. Morgan-Jones, "The 'Glastonbury Cathedra' in the Washington Cathedral," Churchman 83, no. 15 (April 27 1901): 512-513. Merchants' and Mechanics' Bank Building, Scranton, Pennsylvania (1901, demolished)"Banking and Financial News," Bankers Magazine 63, no. 4 (October 1901): 641. Martha Washington Hotel, New York, New York (1901–03, NYCL 2012)"Building News," Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 68, no. 1742 (August 3 1901): 146.