Whiton, Augustus Sherrill ("Gus") , 1887-1961
Biography
Augustus Sherrill Whiton ("Gus") was the founder and Director of NYSID from 1916 until his death in 1961. Architect, author and educator, Whiton attended Columbia University's School of Architecture as well as the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France before returning to New York City and eventually establishing one of the first schools of interior design in the country. An authority on period styles, Whiton wrote two design textbooks, The American Renaissance: A Manual for Teachers (1925) and the seminal itnerior design textbook, Elements of Interior Decoration (first published in 1937). His 45-year tenure was marked by steady growth of both the school and the field of interior design itself. He championed the emerging discipline and the importance of an academic grounding to a broad audience, lecturing widely to adult education classes, womens' clubs, industrial and manufacturing organizations and department stores.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
NYSID Institutional Archives
The NYSID Institutional Archives consists of 23 cubic feet of material documenting the history of the College since its founding in 1916, as well as its ongoing administrative, operational, and records management activities.