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for Christopher Grant La Farge
1862 - 1938
As a boy, Christopher La Farge assisted his father, John La Farge, in his work but soon realized that his interest lay in architecture. After passing the year of 1881-82 in study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, La Farge worked for the next year under Henry Hobson Richardson. In 1883, he and a friend, George L. Heins, moved to Minnesota begin their architectural practice, but a year later were in New York working for John La Farge at La Farge Decorative Art Company. The partnership of Heins and La Farge, established in 1886, became known for the design of churches.
Between 1891 and 1911, La Farge was engaged in the construction of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. It was a great disappointment when he was replaced as architect by Ralph Cram, whose gothic design found more favor with the Episcopal authorities than La Farge's hybrid romanesque plan. Aside from religious buildings, La Farge's firm was known for the design of subway stations throughout New York.
La Farge was president of the Architectural League, 1908-10; president of the New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1911-12; and a trustee and secretary of the American Academy in Rome. He was married to Florence Bayard in 1895, had five children, and in 1931 he saw his firm become La Farge and Son.
Between 1891 and 1911, La Farge was engaged in the construction of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan. It was a great disappointment when he was replaced as architect by Ralph Cram, whose gothic design found more favor with the Episcopal authorities than La Farge's hybrid romanesque plan. Aside from religious buildings, La Farge's firm was known for the design of subway stations throughout New York.
La Farge was president of the Architectural League, 1908-10; president of the New York chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1911-12; and a trustee and secretary of the American Academy in Rome. He was married to Florence Bayard in 1895, had five children, and in 1931 he saw his firm become La Farge and Son.
