Background
Walter Cook was born in 1843 in New York, United States.
Walter Cook was born in 1843 in New York, United States.
The youth was given an academic educa¬tion at Harvard College, after which he turned his attention to architectural study, and in 1869 went to Paris to enter the Ecole des Beaux Arts.
Upon his return to New York Mr. Cook began practice as partner in the firm of Babb, Cook & Willard, and continued with the successive firms of Cook & Willard; Babb, Cook & Welch and finally Cook & Welch. During a long and successful career he was identified with the design of a number of important buildings erected during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Generally considered his outstanding works were the following buildings: DeVinne Press; Choir School at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine; Andrew Carnegie’s Fifth Avenue residence at 90th Street, and the New York Life Insurance Company building, all in New York, and for the latter company buildings in St. Paul, Minneapolis and eastern cities.
An outstanding member of the profession, Mr. Cook was an early member and Fellow (1892) of the American Institute of Architects, and served for several years on the Board of Directors. Elected President of the Institute in 1912 and re-elected the following year, he won nation-wide recognition during his tenure of that high office, and continued his active interest in Institute affairs the rest of his life. He was also a leading member and past- president of the New York Chapter, A. I. A., a member of the Architectural League of New York, the Beaux Arts Society of Architects, was elected an Academician of the National Society of Arts and Letters, and held many honorary degrees.