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Birkmire, William Harvey

architect, engineer, author, was born June 25, 1860, at Falls of Schuylkill, Philadelphia, Pa. He was educated in the public and private schools of Philadelphia, studied architecture four years with Samuel Sloan, architect and author, and at the same time graduated from the Philadelphia Academy of Music. In 1885 he removed to New York to take charge of the construction department of the Jackson. architectural iron works; and in 1892 of the J. B. and J. M. Cornell iron works, the largest architectural iron works in America; and during this time he made the practical steel details for large commercial buildings and the Astor hotels. During 1894-98 he was architect and engineer for John T. Williams on the Central bank building, the Silk exchange building, Lord's court building, and many other prominent buildings in New York city. He is the author of The Planning and Construction of High Office Buildings; Skeleton Construction in Buildings; Architectural Iron and Steel; The Planning and Construction of American Theaters; and other works.