ARLINGTON HOUSE Historic Structures Report Voume 1

This report has been prepared to satisfy the historical research needs as outlined in George Washington Memorial Parkway, Package No. 506, which requested the preparation of a historic structure report, historical data section for Arlington House, to cover the physical history of the Custis-Lee Mansion from 1802 to 1982. The purpose of the present study is to bring together available documentary evidence, including maps, plans, prints, and photographs, to facilitate the accurate restoration and interpretation of Arlington House as that structure appeared was utilized during the years from 1855 to 1861.

This report is based on intensive research in the collections of the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the Washington National Records Center at Suitland, Maryland. As part of this work, a catalog of 184 maps and plans in the National Archives Cartographic Division of Arlington House and grounds covering the period from 1874 to 1965 was prepared. Copies of 97 of these plans were obtained. Copies of 12 photographs, new to the research files of the park, were also acquired. More than 1,000 pages of documents covering the physical history of the house from 1864 to 1933 were copied, and a duplicate set of these manuscripts was compiled in two volumes were placed in the park research files. These two volumes are entitled as follows:

1. "Data Compiled from Record Group No. 92 - Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, U.S. Army, in the National Archives, Washington, D.C., Relating to the Alteration, Repair, and Use of Arlington House (the Custis-Lee Mansion), in Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, From 1864 to 1915." Charles W. Snell, Comp., December 1981-January 1982.

2. "Data Compiled from Record Group No. 92, Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, U.S. Army, in the National Archives at Washington Federal Records Center at Suitland, Maryland, and also from The Arlington House National Park Service Research Files, relating to the Alteration, Repair, Restoration, and Use of Arlington House from 1916 to 1935." Charles W. Snell, comp., January 1982.

The author of this study wishes to acknowledge his great indebtedness for important data relating to the pre-1861 physical history of Arlington House taken from the following three National Park Service research reports:

1. Murray H. Nelligan, "Old Arlington, The Story of the Lee Mansion National Memorial," (Typescript, National Capital Parks, n.d. but completed in 1953), 524 pp.

2. Harry Lee Arnest, III, and John Sligh, "Historic Structures Report - Architectural Data Section for the Arlington House, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Virginia," (Handwritten draft, National Capital Team, Denver Service Center, September 1981).

3. John F. Pousson, "Archeological Excavations at Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, Arlington County, Virginia," (Typed draft, National Capital Team, Denver Service Center, August 1981.)

Nelligan's classic history of the Custis-Lee families and of Arlington House prior to 1861 was researched and written during the years 1948 to 1953. Very little important evidence relating to the physical history of the mansion has been discovered since 1953. Thus, perhaps 97 percent of the documentary evidence relating to the construction and alteration of Arlington House from 1802 to 1861 comes from Historian Nelligan's study.

The extensive studies of the fabric of the north wing of Arlington House by Architect Arnest and Archeologist Pousson in 1980-81 have produced evidence that calls into question the theory first advanced by Architect Gilbert L. Rodier in March 1924 and accepted to date as the correct construction history of the mansion. The theory that the north and south wings, after the completion of construction in 1804, had similar exteriors and similar interior floor plans is apparently without foundation.

A number of people have greatly facilitated the research necessary to prepare this report. Particular thanks go to Site Manager Ann Fuqua and Curator Agnes Mullins at Arlington House for many helpful suggestions, the loan of research files, and providing copies of prints and photographs used in this study

Charles W. Snell
Washington, D.C.
March 23, 1982