If These Walls Could Talk: 200 Years of William Jay Architecture
In the three short years between his arrival from England in 1817 to his departure for Charleston in 1820, William Jay changed the face of Savannah. In a time when many Americans sought to distance themselves from European influence and develop a national character of their own, a few, including Richard Richardson, Alexander Telfair, William Scarbrough, and Archibald Stobo Bulloch, still sought the classical elegance of the popular English Regency style. Jay delivered the luxurious showplaces they desired and also elevated Savannah’s civic life with a new theater, a design for the Savannah Branch of the Second Bank of the United States, and a new Customs House.
Explore Jay’s life, travels, and most importantly his designs as we celebrate 200 years of William Jay architecture in Savannah.
Building designed by David Riddall Roper, Engraved by John Rolp (British, 1799-1862), Drawn by Thomas H. Shepherd (British, 1792-1864), Haberdasher’s Alms Houses, Hoxton, ca. 1828, For Metropolitan Improvements or London in the Nineteenth Century by James Elmes (British, 1782-1862), Published by Jones & Co., London, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
Drawn and engraved by J&C Walker (John Walker, Alexander Walker, and Charles Walker), Map of Mauritius, April 1, 1835, For History of the British Colonies: Possessions in Africa and Australasia, Volume IV, By Robert Montgomery Martin (Irish, 1801-1868), Published by Cochrane and Co., Waterloo Place, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
Engraved by Fenner, Sears & Co. after a print by William Goodacre (American, active 1829-1835), Branch of the United States Bank, Savannah, 1831, Published in History and Topography of the United States, v. 2, edited by John Howard Hinton, Published by Boston: S. Walker, Tinted steel engraving on paper, Gift of Jane Davan Forbes, OT1960.14
J. and W. Ridgeway, Cauldon Place Works, Hanley, England, Sauce Tureen, Staffordshire pottery, from “beauties of America” series, a gravy tureen, dark blue transferware, border “Medallions of Rose and Leaf,” Transfer of William Jay’s Bank, c. 1823-30, Engraved by W. G. Mason after a drawing by Joshua Shaw in Commercial Directory published by J. C. Kayser et al., Philadelphia, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
Christopher A.D. Murphy (American, 1902-1973), A William Jay Portico, c. 1947, Etching on paper, Gift of the Little House, OT1958.31
Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Richardson-Maxwell-Owen-Thomas House, 124 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.
Unknown photographer, Owens-Thomas House, c. late 1880s, TA556.
Anthemion cornice piece, Cast Iron, Owens-Thomas House Balcony
Signature and Inscription of Builder, beneath the front portico of the Owens-Thomas House Reads: “John Retan Began Nov AD 1816 / Finished Jan AD 1819”
Original cast iron architectural fragment from the Scarbrough House, Cast Iron, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), William Scarborough [sic] House, 41 West Broad Street, Savannah, Chatham County, GA, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C.
George Mandus (1924-2012), William Scarbrough (1776-1838), 1975, Replica of miniature held at the Georgia Historical Society, Courtesy of Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum
Artist Unknown, Julia Bernard Scarbrough (1786-1851), c. early 19th century, 20 x 25 inches, Courtesy of Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum
Frances Benjamin Johnston (American, 1864-1952), Scarborough [sic] Mansion, West Broad Street, Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, ca. 1939-44, Photograph, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Div., Washington, D. C.
Former William Scarbrough House, present day Ships of the Sea Museum, Photograph, © Atlantic Archives, Inc./Richard Leo Johnson
Bench from the Scarbrough House, Cast Iron, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
First floor plan of the Scarbrough House, 1902, The Georgian Period, Part 12, Edited by W.R. Ware, New York, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
The Bulloch House Staircase, 1902, The Georgian Period, part 12, Edited by W.R. Ware, New York, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
The Bullock [sic] House – Portico, Orleans Square, Savannah, Ga., Jay, Architect, March 1907, Architectural Record, Photograph, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
First floor plan of the Bulloch House, 1902, The Georgian Period, Part 12, Edited by W. R. Ware, New York, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
Pair of Ionic capitals of the Propylaea, Athens from the interior of the Bulloch House, Coade Stone, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
Unknown Maker, Bulloch House, n.d., Watercolor on paper, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
The Bulloch House Staircase from The Georgian Period, part 12, edited by W.R. Ware in New York, 1902, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
Christopher A.D. Murphy (American, 1902-1973), A William Jay Portico (Owens-Thomas House), c. 1947, Etching on paper, Gift of the Little House, OT1958.31
Christopher A.D. Murphy (American, 1902-1973), Untitled (Back of Owens-Thomas House from State Street), n.d., Etching on paper, Gift of Diane and Ervin Houston, 2014.1.2
Mary Comer Lane (American, 1881-1966), Meta Thomas’s Garden (Owens-Thomas House), c. 1920, Watercolor on paper, Acquisition made possible by the bequest of Myrtle Jones, 2007.18.2
Christopher A.D. Murphy (American 1902-1973), Untitled (Owens-Thomas House, Lafayette Balcony), n.d., Pencil on vellum, NN.442
Museum Clausum (Klaus Wehner, German, B. 1957), Owens-Thomas House, Telfair Museums Savannah, Georgia 10 April 2015, 11:38 am, 2015, Giclée print, Gift of the artist, 2017.10.1
Margaret Gray Thomas (last owner of the Owens-Thomas House), (American, 1871-1951), Rear Garden of the Owens-Thomas House, by 1951, Oil on canvas board, Gift of Mrs. Anna C. Hunter, 1963.3
Jack Leigh (American, 1948-2004), Owens-Thomas House, 1998, Gelatin silver print, Gift of the artist, 2009.5
Christopher A.D. Murphy (American, 1902-1973), Untitled (Owens-Thomas House south Façade), On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
Christopher A.D. Murphy (American 1902-1973), Untitled (south façade of Telfair Academy), c. 1927, Graphite on paper, Gift of John and Virginia Duncan, 2013.10.3
Unknown Maker, Untitled (Telfair façade), n.d., Pencil on paper, On loan from V & J Duncan Collection
