author
H. Paul (Hans Paul) Caemmerer
1884–1962
Best known for writing a detailed history of Washington, D.C., this scholar and public servant spent decades documenting the capital’s planning, architecture, and civic life. His work still stands out for its careful eye for how the city was shaped.
1 Audiobook
A manual on the origin and development of Washington
by H. Paul (Hans Paul) Caemmerer
About the author
Born in 1884 and active in Washington public life for many years, he was a historian, writer, and government official with a deep interest in art, planning, and the story of the nation’s capital. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts describes him as its first civilian secretary, noting that he studied art and archaeology at George Washington University, later earned a law degree from Georgetown University, and completed a doctorate at American University.
He is best remembered for A Manual on the Origin and Development of Washington (1939), a substantial work on the history and physical development of Washington, D.C. His writing focused on the city’s design, institutions, and major figures, including Pierre Charles L’Enfant, and helped preserve knowledge of how the capital evolved.
Archival material also suggests a long and well-documented life in Washington beyond his published books. Records held by the U.S. National Archives refer to the papers of Hans Paul Caemmerer and give a glimpse of his personal and civic world as well as his professional work. He died in 1962.