Résumé

Draftsman, John W. Ross, Architect, Davenport, IA, 1884-1887.

Draftsman, Charles D. Swan, Architect, Buffalo, NY, 1889-1890.

Draftsman, McKim, Mead and White, Architects, New York, NY, 1891-1897.

Partner, Ackerman and Ross, Architects, New York, NY, 1897-1902. Ackerman and Ross practiced in New York City, and specialized in grand Beaux-Arts Style public buildings popular after the 1893 Columbian Exposition. Ross served as the lead designer within the firm. In addition to the San Diego Public Library (1902), Ackerman and Ross produced the designs for the following buildings: Carnegie Library, Atlanta, GA, (1900, demolished 1977), Stevens Institute of Technology, Carnegie Laboratory of Engineering, Hoboken, NJ, (1902, for Ackerman's alma mater), Central Library of the District of Colombia, Washington, DC, (1903, financed by a $250,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie), Union County Courthouse, Elizabeth, NJ, (1903),and Port Jervis Free Library, Port Jervis, NY, (1903).

Principal, Albert Randolph Ross, Architect, New York, NY, 1903-c. 1933. In 1906, Ross maintained his office at 542 5th Avenue, New York. (See Who’s Who in America, 1906-1907, [Chicago: A.N. Marquis & Company, 1906], p. 1530.)​By late 1913, Ross relocated to leased office space at 15 East 40th Street, Room #901, in New York. The American Architect stated in its issue of 12/10/1913: “Albert Randolph Ross, architect, announces the removal of his office to 15 East 40th Street, New York City.” (See “Personal,” American Architect, vol. 104, 12/10/1913, p. 5.) He remained at this location in 1915. (See New York, NY, City Directory, 1915, p. 1576.)

On his own, Ross continued to produce many Neo-Classical designs for libraries, institutional buildings and monuments across the US: Atlantic City Free Public Library, Atlantic City, New Jersey (1903), Taunton Public Library, Taunton, MA, (1903), East Orange Public Library, East Orange, NJ, (1903), Pittsfield Public Library, Pittsfield, ME, (1904), Nashville Main Library, Nashville, TN, (1904), Gloversville Free Library, Gloversville, NY, (1904), Needham Free Public Library, Needham, MA, (1904, demolished), Old Town Public Library, Old Town, ME, (1904), Penn Yan Public Library, Penn Yan, NY, (1905), Cragin Memorial Library, Colchester, CT, (1905), Vicksburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania State Memorial, Vicksburg, PA, (1906), South Haven Carnegie Library, South Haven, MI, (1906), Uinta County Library, Evanston, WY, (1906), Columbus Public Library, Main Library, Columbus, OH, (1907), Carnegie Library, Hinckley, ME, (1907), Union Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Project, Baltimore, MD, (1907, unbuilt), McKinley Memorial, Philadelphia, PA, (1908), State University of New York, Draper Hall, Albany, NY, (1909), Union Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Baltimore, MD, (1909). Carnegie Library, Denver, CO, (1910), Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, NJ, (1914), Newark Memorial Museum Project, Newark, NJ, (1915, unbuilt) and Milwaukee County Courthouse, Milwaukee, WI, (1931).

Professional Activities

Member, Architectural League of New York, New York, NY.

Member, National Sculpture Society, New York, NY.

Member, National Arts Club, New York, NY.

High School

Graduate, Davenport High School, Davenport, IA, c. 1885.

Relocation

Ross was born in Westfield, MA, and attended grammar school there between 1872 and 1876. The family had meager assets as noted in the US Census of 1870. They owned $450 worth of real estate and had savings of $500. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; Roll: M593_619; Page: 395B; Family History Library Film: 552118, accessed 11/23/2020.)

His family moved to Davenport, IA, in 1876, where his father had an opportunity to become an architect. The 1880 US Census found the Ross Family residing in Apartment #3 at 1745 Grand Avenue in Davenport. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Davenport, Scott, Iowa; Roll: 364; Page: 678B; Enumeration District: 280, accessed 11/23/2020.) Albert finished elementary and high school education in Davenport in the mid-1880s.

He studied sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, likely in the late 1880s.

Ross worked for architect Charles D. Swan in Buffalo, NY, between 1889 and 1890. From Buffalo, he moved to New York, NY, to work for the most renowned architectural firm in the US, McKim, Mead and White, during the years 1891 through 1897.

According to the 1900 US Census, Ross was living in his parents' Davenport, IA, house at 312 East 15th Street. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Davenport, Scott, Iowa; Page: 7; Enumeration District: 0135; FHL microfilm: 1240458, accessed 11/23/2020.)

In 1906, Ross lived at 134 East 38th Street in New York, NY. Ross had an apartment at 158 West 58th Street in New York in 1915. (See New York, NY, City Directory, 1915, p. 1576.)

For nearly fifty years, Ross maintained a residence on Curtis Island, ME. (See Who’s Who in America, 1906-1907, [Chicago: A.N. Marquis & Company, 1906], p. 1530.)​ In 1931, he appears to have lived here permanently. (SeeBoothbay, Maine, City Directory, 1931, p. 75.) Ship's manifests from trips made in 1933 and 1936 both indicated a permanent address in Boothbay, ME.

Parents

His father was architect John Wesley Ross (1830-1914). The 1870 US Census indicated that John W. Ross worked as a carpenter in Westfield, MA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; Roll: M593_619; Page: 395B; Family History Library Film: 552118, accessed 11/23/2020.) Ten years later, John Ross described himself as an architect.

His mother was Carrie Louise Scarlett.

His siblings were Edith Alma Ross (born 03/25/1867 in Westfield, MA-d. 05/02/1940 in Davenport, IA) and John Andrew Ross (1888-05/10/1942 in Davenport, IA)

Spouse

Ross married twice. He first wed Susan Chadwick Husted (born 05/11/1875 in Hyde Park, MA- d. 08/03/1926 in Shelby, NY) on 10/30/1901 in New York, NY. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Birth Records, 1840-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013, accessed 11/23/2020 and Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 11/23/2020.) Susan grew up in Hyde Park, the daughter of Richard W. Husted (born 03/26/1835 in Hallowell, ME-d. 1927 in NY) and Anna McLean (born c. 1843 in Nashville, TN-d. 02/25/1899 in Boston, MA).

His second wife was Theodores W. Ross (born 10/16/1894 in Luado, Mexico-d. 12/1981 in Miami, FL), whom he married on 03/17/1933 in Manhattan. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information: New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 11/23/2020.) It seems that Ross curtailed his architectural activities after the worst of the Depression's effects, but was financially comfortable enough to travel. WIth his new wife, he made at least two large trips during the 1930s.

After his second marriage, Albert and Theadores traveled first class aboard the Matson Lines’ White Fleet liner, S.S. Mariposa, traveling between San Francisco, CA, and Honolulu, HI, during the period 04/06/1933 and 04/12/1933.(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Honolulu, Hawaii, compiled 02/13/1900 - 12/30/1953; National Archives Microfilm Publication: A3422; Roll: 131; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: RG 85, accessed 11/25/2020.) They returned from Shanghai, China, to Los Angeles, CA, aboard the Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) ship, S.S. Tatsuta Maru. The steamer left Shanghai on 04/20/1935. At this time, the Ross’ primary residence was listed on the ship’s manifest as Boothbay Harbor, Maine. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Pedro/Wilmington/Los Angeles, California; NAI Number: 4486355; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85, accessed 11/23/2020.)

Beginning on 04/25/1936, Albert and Theadores Ross sailed aboard the Prince Liner M.V. Northern Prince from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to New York, NY, arriving on 05/14//1936. This manifest indicated that Theadores had US citizenship through her parents. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1936; Arrival: New York, New York, USA; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Line: 11; Page Number: 108, accessed 11/25/2020.)

Theadores Ross, after Albert's death, sailed aboard the Cunard-White Star liner R.M.S. Queen Mary between New York, NY, and Cherbourg, France, beginning on 09/07/1955. She planned to spend 42 days abroad, according to the ship's manifest.

Biographical Notes

A US passport application of 10/27/1892 mistakenly noted Ross's birthday as 10/26/1869. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Roll #: 400; Volume #: Roll 400 - 01 Oct 1892-30 Nov 1892, accessed 11/23/2020.)

• Westfield, MA (Architect's Birth)
  Westfield, MA 01085

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