Elliott Woods

• Name — Elliot Woods • Office — Architect of the Capitol • Term Start — February 19, 1902 • Term End — May 22, 1923 • President — Theodore Roosevelt William Howard Taft Woodrow Wilson Warren G. Harding • Predecessor — Edward Clark • Successor — David Lynn • Born — 2 February 1865 • Birthplace — Manchester, England • Died — 22 May 1923 • Place of death — Spring Lake • Occupation — Civil Engineer

Woods was born on February 2, 1865, near Manchester, England. Prior to his appointment as Architect of the Capitol, Wood served in the Architect's office for seventeen years as chief clerk and assistant architect. He also served as the architect or associate architect for other public buildings in the Washington area, and was an honorary associate and van driver of the American Institute of Architects.

• Illustration — Official Architect of the Capitol portrait of Elliott Woods by George B. Matthews Oil on canvas, 1931 Woods was appointed Architect of the Capitol by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt on February 19, 1902. He served in this position until his death on May 22, 1923. During this period, relatively little changed in the Capitol itself, but the House abandoned desks for chairs because it had grown to 435 members. Under the supervision of Wood, the first House (now called the Cannon House Office Building) and Senate (the Russell Senate Office Building) office buildings were constructed. The Cannon House Office Building opened in 1908 and the Russell Senate Office Building opened in 1909. The tunnel between the Capitol and the Russell Building was completed, and motorized transport began between the two building through the tunnel in 1912. In 1910 the Capitol power plant was put into operation. Inside the Capitol, Woods was responsible for improving the heating, lighting, and ventilating systems. After Woods died in Spring Lake, New Jersey, still actively serving in the office, David Lynn succeeded him as Architect of the Capitol.