author
Harold Donaldson Eberlein
1875–1964
A prolific American writer on architecture, interiors, and historic houses, he helped shape how readers understood early American design. His books and articles ranged widely, but colonial architecture and Philadelphia history remained at the heart of his work.
1 Audiobook
The Architecture of Colonial America
by Harold Donaldson Eberlein
About the author
Born in Columbia, Pennsylvania, in 1875, Harold Donaldson Eberlein became a prolific American author and antiquarian whose work focused on architecture, interior decoration, decorative arts, gardens, travel, and local history. A scholarly article on his life describes a career spanning more than fifty years, with almost forty books and many articles to his name.
Philadelphia was central to both his life and his writing. He is closely associated with the city's historical and preservation circles, and sources describe him as serving on the advisory board of the Historic American Buildings Survey and being among the founders of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. His books on colonial homes, period furniture, and the architecture of early America helped bring careful historical detail to a wide audience.
Today he is best remembered for works such as The Architecture of Colonial America and for a body of writing that connected buildings, interiors, and everyday life with the larger story of American culture. He died in 1964 at the age of 89.