Personal Data

Eliot Thwing Putnam was born on May 20, 1879, in Roxbury, the son of Henry Ware Putnam and his wife, Florence Haven Thwing.

He married on November 14, 1903, in Boston,, to Marguerita Sumner (b. May1877 in Milton), daughter of John Coffin Jones and his wife, Ella Maria Sumner (daughter of Austin Sumner). Marguerita Sumner was born Margaretta Jones and took her mother’s maiden name as her surname.

Eliot Putnam died in September of 1946.

Career

Eliot Putnam graduated from Harvard in 1901 and studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. He returned to the United States in 1907 and joined the offices of Andrews, Jaques and Rantoul.  In 1908, he opened his own office in Boston, and in 1910 he joined in partnership with Gordon Allen in the firm of Putnam and Allen.  In about 1914 they dissolved their partnership and each opened his own office.

In about 1917, he joined with Joseph Everett Chandler (1864-1945), forming the firm of Putnam and Chandler. They remained in partnership until about 1926. Chandler was known for his restoration of the Old State House, Paul Revere House, and House of the Seven Gables.

Back Bay Work