Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division
Robert Smith Collection
Princeton University. Library. Special Collections
Smith, Robert (1722-1777)
C1209
/repositories/5/resources/3036
1 box
0.2 linear feet
1755-1758
1755-1790
Consists of correspondence and documents of carpenter-architect Robert Smith, the leading building professional in Philadelphia in the eighteenth century, chiefly concerning the building of Nassau Hall at The College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and the house of the college president.
scamss
English
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
For preservation reasons, original analog
and digital media may not be read or played back in the
reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media
but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog
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Scope and Contents
The material consists of correspondence and documents of Robert Smith which are chiefly related to the building of The College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and of the house of the College president. Included is correspondence with the Rev. Aaron Burr, second president of the College of New Jersey, and receipts in payment for the building of Nassau Hall, dated August 19, 1757. There are accounts of monies paid to Smith on behalf of the Trustees of the College signed by Richard Stockton. In addtion, there are several receipts in payment for windows and other material related to the building of Nassau Hall and the President's house by the Rev. John Brainerd, Aaron Burr, David Ogden, Charles Read, and Jonathan Sergeant, dated between 1755 and 1758. Also, there is an autograph document signed by Smith and dated August 5, 1790, regarding the title of a 53 acre tract of land In Penns Neck, New Jersey.
Arrangement
Folders are arranged by accession number.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Custodial History
The collection was formed as a result of a Departmental practice of combining into one collection material of various accessions relating to a particular person, family, or subject.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Robert Smith's description and title of a 53 acre tract in Penn's Neck, N.J., was a gift of C. C. Abbott, Princeton Historical Society in February 1901.
All other accessions were originally part of the Pyne-Henry Collection. Various AM.
Appraisal
No appraisal information is available.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Robert Smith Collection, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Dina Britain on August 16, 2007. Finding aid written by Traci Ballou-Broadnax on August 21, 2007. Folder Inventory added by Hilde Creager (2015) in 2012.
Smith, Robert (1722-1777)
Biographical / Historical
Robert Smith was considered by many to be the foremost master-builder, or carpenter-architect, of the Colonial period, and has been called "America's most important eighteenth-century architect.". Nassau Hall at the College of New Jersey was the third building he designed in the American colonies. Smith was also responsible for the college president's house, built concurrently with Nassau Hall (1753-1756). Other important works by Smith include St. Peter's Church, Benjamin Franklin's house, Carpenter's Hall, and the Walnut Street Prison, all in Philadelphia, and University Hall at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Smith was also involved in the struggle for American independence. He produced designs for military architecture to protect Philadelphia from British attack, such as the elaborate system of underwater fortifications in the Delaware River that stymied British communications off the coast, and the Continental Army barracks (1777) at Billingsport, New Jersey.
Architects -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia. -- 18th century
Correspondence -- 18th century
Documents -- 18th century.
Manuscripts -- 18th century
Receipts. -- 18th century
College of New Jersey (Princeton, N.J.)
Nassau Hall (Princeton, N.J.)
Bill for services and material to the estate of Aaron Burr (Pres.)/repositories/5/archival_objects/8484741 folder1757 October-November11Immediate Source of AcquisitionAM436 Pyne-Henry
"account of monies paid Robert Smith in behalf of the Trustees of New Jersey College by Richard Stockton"/repositories/5/archival_objects/8484751 folder1755 July-December12Immediate Source of AcquisitionAM437 Pyne-Henry
Document by Robert Smith/repositories/5/archival_objects/8484761 folder1760 July 3113Immediate Source of AcquisitionAM438 Pyne-Henry
Statements of accounts with various people and with the College/repositories/5/archival_objects/8484771 folder1755-175614Immediate Source of AcquisitionAM446-447 Pyne-Henry
Receipt by Robert Smith to Aaron Burr for 2:60:4 pounds "on account for building the College of New Jersey"/repositories/5/archival_objects/8484781 folder1756 February15Immediate Source of AcquisitionAM881 Pyne-Henry
Description and title of the 53 acre tract in upper Penn's Neck, Salem Co., belonging to Joseph Bullock/repositories/5/archival_objects/8484791 folder1790 July 1916Immediate Source of AcquisitionAM1045 Abbott
An order from Robert Smith to Jonathan Sergeant to pay 37:3:9 pounds, to Charles Reed for 8500 feet of lumber for window cases for the College (Nassau Hall), a transfer signed by Charles Reed to David Ogden, a receipt to Jonathan Sergeant signed by David Ogden/repositories/5/archival_objects/8484801 folder175517Immediate Source of AcquisitionAM2090 Pyne-Henry
Document from Robert Smith to Rev. John Brainerd/repositories/5/archival_objects/8484811 folder1756 September 618Immediate Source of AcquisitionAM9016 Pyne-Henry
Receipts from Robert Smith to Aaron Burr in payment for building the College of New Jersey (Nassau Hall)/repositories/5/archival_objects/8484821 folder1755-175719Immediate Source of AcquisitionVarious AM
Receipts from Robert Smith to Jonathan Sergeant in payment for building the College of New Jersey (Nassau Hall)/repositories/5/archival_objects/8484831 folder1755-1758110Immediate Source of AcquisitionVarious AM