Chandler, Theophilus Parsons Jr.

CHANDLER, Theophilus Parsons Jr. (1845-1928) of Philadelphia, Penn. prepared the designs for 'Westwind', a Shingle Style summer home for Benjamin G. Wells at Beaumaris, LAKE MUSKOKA, ONT. in 1898 (P.W. Ahlbrandt, Beaumaris, 1989, 134-5, illus.; L. Lundell, Old Muskoka: Century Cottages and Summer Estates, 2003, 118-20, illus.). Born in Boston, Chandler was educated at Harvard University and in Paris in the atelier of Emile Vaudremer. He commenced practice in Philadelphia in 1870 and became an important designer of ecclesiastical and commercial buildings in that city. His residential designs were particularly notable for the manner in which he softened the hard-edged Victorian style with a striking picturesque effect. Chandler later became the first Director of the School of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania in 1890. He died in Philadelphia on 16 August 1928 (obit. A.I.A. Journal, xvi, Sept. 1928, 356; H. Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects, 1956, 118; S. Tatman, Biographical Dictonary of Philadelphia Architects, 1985, 139-40)