Henry Davis Sleeper
Henry Davis Sleeper ( * 1878, † 1934) was an American art collector, designer and interior architect.
Born into a wealthy Boston family of real estate agents - his grandfather Jacob Sleeper (1809-1889) was one of the three founders of Boston University - the sickly son was educated by private tutors, his interest in design and art history was discovered early.
Started in 1907 Sleeper - McCann House in Gloucester on Cape Ann in Massachusetts was originally planned only as a summer residence, but were made to the death of the landowner permanent extensions or conversions situated on a rocky outcrop above the port building. The designs - which were implemented by the architect Halfdan M. Hanson - and the establishment of these innovations came from Sleeper himself, who had made it his life's work to collect cultural objects from the colonial era and the years of struggle for independence and issue. So the summer house resembled his lifetime of builders rather a museum.
In addition to the Sleeper - McCann House today just another work in its original state is obtained: the Bratenahl House in Gloucester, for which Sleeper took over the design for the paneling, the furniture and the decoration. All other works are now - sometimes considerably - changed:
- The Highlands (Fort Washington, Pennsylvania) - for Caroline Sinkler, now a museum accessible
- Thomas House ( Middleburg, Virginia, 1912/5 ) - together with Halfdan M. Hanson and Henry C. Mercer
- Hound More Lodge / Morrill House (Gloucester, Massachusetts, 1920)
- Bruce E. Merriman House ( Providence, Rhode Iceland, 1923)
- Mabel Yates Howe House ( West Manchester, Massachusetts, 1924)
- F. Frazier Jelke House (Eagle 's Nest, Newport, Rhode Iceland, 1924)
- Davenport House / Paul Hollister House (New Rochelle, New York, 1930)
- George F. Tyler House ( Indian Council Rock Newtown, Pennsylvania, 1932)
- Johnny Mack Brown House ( Nine Gables, Hollywood, California, 1930)
- Frederic March House ( Beverly Hills, California, 1934)
Henry Davis Sleeper was a member of the colony ' Dabsville ', a society of intellectuals, which emerged in the first third of the 20th century in Gloucester among owners of cottages.
The American Institute of Architects named him a few months before his death in 1934 to one of today only six honorary members.