James Knox Taylor (1857-1929), Architect
James Knox Taylor was born on October 11, 1857 in Knoxville, Illinois to Mary Young and Herman Knox.[5] He worked in architecture in cities across the states, as well as in Washington, D.C. as the Supervising Architect for the U.S. Department of the Treasury.[5] He also designed several post offices for Nebraska. He was married to Adele Chambers from Philadelphia. James Taylor died August 27, 1929.[3]
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
[hide]Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Educational & Professional Associations
1879: B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.[5]
1879-1882: architect, New York City.[5]
1882-1893: architect, St. Paul, Minnesota.[5]
1897-1912: Supervising Architect, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Washington, D.C..[3][5]
1912-1914: faculty, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.[5]
1914-1928: architect, Yonkers, New York and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5]
1928: retired, Tampa, Florida.[5]
Buildings & Projects
Completion of the U.S. Federal Building (1891-1899), and addition to same (1899-1904), 16th Street at Capitol Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska.[8][10-15[a]
U.S. Post Office (1897-1899), South Omaha, Nebraska.[7][b]
U.S. Post Office (1899-1903), Blair, Nebraska.[6][8-14][c]
U.S. Post Office (1900, 1902-1906), Hastings, Nebraska.[11-16][d]
U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (1902-1905), Norfolk, Nebraska.[1][2][11-16][e] National Register narrative
U.S. Post Office & Courthouse (1902-1906), 10th & P, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2][4][12-16][f]
U.S. Post Office (1903, ), Grand Island, Nebraska.[13][14][g]
U.S. Post Office (1903, 1906-), 626 Grant Ave., York, Nebraska.[13-16][h] (YK11-002)
U. S. Post Office (1906, 19xx-), Columbus, Nebraska.[16][i]
U. S. Post Office (1906, 19xx-), Plattsmouth, Nebraska.[16][j]
U. S. Post Office (1906, 1911), 2401 Central Ave., Kearney, Nebraska.[2][16][k](BF05-169) National Register narrative
Extension to USPO (1906- ), Nebraska City, Nebraska.[16]
Extension to USPO (1907- ), Beatrice, Nebraska.[17][l]
U. S. Post Office (1908- ), Fairbury, Nebraska.[17][m]
Notes
a. Taylor reported in 1899 that the Omaha Federal building was completed and occupied early in that calendar year, and that commencement of an extension had been authorized, to a limit of $150,000. In September of 1900 he reported that a proposal for construction had recently been accepted but construction of the extension had not yet commenced. Construction was underway in 1901, with work on two wings in 1902, and some changes anticipated "in the central wing." Taylor's annual report of 1902-3 confidently predicted "completion will be secured...before the close of the present calendar year." The annual report of 1903-4 noted "Work on extension completed."[8][10-14]
b. Taylor's forward to the Annual Report of 1898 mentions that the South Omaha building was among ten structures which “have been put under contract” since the beginning of FY1987-1898 “which was practically coincident with…the time of my appointment as Supervising Architect….”[7] Taylor also illustrated that annual report with a rendering of the South Omaha P.O.
c. In 1899, Congress authorized commencement of site purchase and contracting for construction of a USPO in Blair, Nebraska, limiting the budget to $43,000. Taylor reported that the site selection was in progress in his 1899 report, but only $7 had been expended by September of 1899.[8] Taylor reported in 1900 that the site had been procured, sketches and estimates approved, and working drawings prepared.[10] In 1901 Taylor stated that a contract for construction had been entered into, but progress was unsatisfactory, therefore "Action is being taken with a view to securing greater dispatch in the prosecution of the work."[11] The report of June 1902 expressed frustration with the contractors and pessimism that completion would be accomplished before 1903. Nevertheless, the 1902-3 Annual Report noted completion of the Blair PO before the end of 1902, yet reported in mid-1903 "...it has become necessary to demand from the contractors a correction of certain defects which is now receiving the attention of this office." Finally in June, 1904, Blair's USPO received a simple accounting of expenditure of $42,414.33 for site and construction, about $600 under the $43,000 limit.[10-14]
d. A USPO was authorized for Hastings, Nebraska in 1899. A site was secured by 1901 and the next year's report indicated approvals were in hand for preparing sketch plans. In 1903 Taylor noted that "the preparation of working drawings is well advanced" with a budget limit of $125,000 for site acquisition and construction. The next year the construction was under contract and in 1905 was "well advanced." The 1905-6 report described Hastings USPO as "Building occupied, but not finally completed."[11-16]
e. Site acquisition for Norfolk, Nebraska's new Post Office was authorized in 1899, but a site was not reported as secured until 1901. By 1902, Taylor reported "working drawings are now in hand with a view to placing invitations on the market before the close of the present calendar year for bids..." Taylor reported by mid-1903 that "foundations are complete and masonry is up to first-floor level," foreseeing completion by June, 1904. The 1903-4 annual report of June 30, 1904 noted the building was "Nearing completion." A year later, the building was "Occupied, but not finally completed." The 1905-6 annual report acknowledged "Building completed and occupied."[11-16]
f. Taylor's annual report of 1902 indicated in regard to the USPO in Lincoln, Nebraska, that "In accordance with recent legislation drawings will be prepared looking to the enlargement of the [1870s] building to better adapt it to the needs of the public service." $25,000 was the sum appropriated for that purpose. By 1903, the "limit of cost" had been extended to $350,000 "for the construction of a new building." The next year construction was under contract and in 1905 construction was still "progressing." In 1906 the report was "Work well advanced."[12-16]
g. "Grand Island, Nebr., Post-Office" was first mentioned in Taylor's 1902-3 report, noting Congressional authorization for acquisition of a site, and that "an agent of this Department" had been directed to visit Grand Island and make a report. The 1903-4 report simply noted a site had been acquired. The 190[13][14][16]
h. A USPO for York, Nebraska received mention in the 1902-3 annual report, noting site acquisition had received Congressional authorization and a Department representative would visit and submit a report. The next annual report simply noted "Site acquired." Taylor's annual report of 1905-6 indicated that construction was authorized, with a cost limit of $70,000, and an initial appropriation of $70,000.[13-16]
i. Site acquisition for a USPO in Columbus, Nebraska was authorized in 1906.[16]
j. Site acquisition for a USPO in Plattsmouth, Nebraska was authorized in 1906.[16]
k. A USPO in Kearney, Nebraska was listed in the 1905-6 report, with the cost limit for site and building noted as $80,00, of which the first $18,000 had been appropriated.[16]
l. Authorizing legislation was passed in 1908 for an extension to the Beatrice Post Office, with a cost limit set at $50,000 and the first $20,000 appropriated.[17]
m. A USPO for Fairbury, Nebraska was authorized in 1908, with a cost limit for both site and construction of $70,000 and an initial appropriation of $15,000.[17]
References
1. Oliver B. Pollak, Nebraska Courthouses: Contention, Compromise, and Community [Images of America Series] (Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2002), 121. [725.1.P771n]
2. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
3. AIA Historical Directory of American Architects: A Resource Guide to Finding Information About Past Architects, accessed August 3, 2010, http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1044342.aspx
4. Thomas Lee Kaspar, comp. Inventory of architectural records in the archives of Davis Fenton Stange Darling, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska. 1996. Nebraska State Historical Society, RG3748, Box 16.
5. "James Knox Taylor" FindaGrave.com Accessed February 6, 2019 via https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155432840/james-knox-taylor
6. "James Knox Taylor" St. Croix Architecture (May 24, 2011). www.stcroixarchitecture.com
7. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending September 30, 1898, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1898), 47 (illustrated).
8. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1899, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1899), 13 (Blair); 54 (Omaha Federal Building).
9. “Notice” (call for bids), The Pilot (Blair, Nebraska) (August 9, 1900), 8.
10. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1900, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1900), 14 (Blair); 58 (Omaha Federal Building).
11. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1901, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1901), 15 (Blair); 37 (Hastings); 61 (Norfolk); 63 (Omaha Federal Building).
12. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1902, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1902), 25 (Blair); 59 (Hastings); 77 (Lincoln), 101 (Norfolk); 106 (Omaha Federal Building).
13. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1903, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1903), 24 (Blair); 66 (Grand Island); 70 (Hastings); 89 (Lincoln), 122 (Norfolk); 128 (Omaha Federal Building); 166 (York).
14. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1904, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1904), 15 (Blair); 34 (Grand Island); 36 (Hastings); 44 (Lincoln), 56 (Norfolk); 58 (Omaha Federal Building); 80 (York).
15. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1905, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1905), 14 (Hastings); 16 (Lincoln), 18 (Norfolk); 19 (Omaha Federal Building); 24 (York).
16. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1906, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1906), 13 (Columbus); 18 (Hastings); 21 (Kearney); 22 (Lincoln), 25 (Nebraska City); 26 (Norfolk); 28 (Plattsmouth); 36 (York).
17. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1907, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1907), 30 (Beatrice); 53 (Columbus); 102 (Fairbury); xx (Hastings); xx (Kearney); xx (Lincoln), xx (Nebraska City); xx (Norfolk); xx (Plattsmouth); xx (York).
[[18. James Knox Taylor, Annual Report of the Supervising Architect to the Secretary of the Treasury for the year ending June 30, 1908, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1908), 30 (Beatrice); 53 (Columbus); 102 (Fairbury); xx (Hastings); xx (Kearney); xx (Lincoln), xx (Nebraska City); xx (Norfolk); xx (Plattsmouth); xx (York).]]
Other Sources
Entry in Henry F. Withey, A.I.A., and Elsie Rathburn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased) (Los Angeles: New Age Publishing Company, 1956. Facsimile edition, Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc., 1970).
Page Citation
E. F. Zimmer & D. Murphy, “James Knox Taylor (1857-1929), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, November 26, 2024. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, April 7, 2025.
Contact the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office with questions or comments concerning this page, including any problems you may have with broken links (see, however, the Disclaimers link at the bottom of this page). Please provide the URL to this page with your inquiry.
