111th Congress, 2nd Session
Cannon House Office Building: A Congressional First
Furnishing the Building
The Cannon building was designed to be a modern office building that served an old and venerable institution. Each Member’s office was furnished in the contemporary fashion, with a table, roll-top desk, wardrobe/file case combination, tufted “Turkish” chair, and smaller side or desk chairs.
Several state-of-the-art modifications were made to Cannon furniture, including “a metal mice-proof bottom” on each desk. The rooms were carpeted, and equipped with all the newest conveniences: a sink, forced-air heat, a wall telephone, and electric light fixtures.
The Congress stipulated that the furniture was to reflect the stately nature of the House. It was made of “the very best quality” mahogany and “French finish Hand buffed upholstery leather or its equal.” All carving was to be done by hand, “executed with spirit and care and left so as to show the tool marks.”
Member Office, 1908 Image courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol
