James C. Bucklin

James Champlin Bucklin
Born	26 July 1801 Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Died	September 1890 Providence, Rhode Island
Nationality	United States
Occupation	Architect

James C. Bucklin (1801-1890) was an American architect working in Providence, Rhode Island.

Bucklin was born on 26 July 1801, in a part of Rehoboth that is now part of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to James and Lorania (Pearce) Bucklin. His father died 6 December 1802, and his widow moved to Providence with her son. Bucklin attended the town's public schools. At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to early architect-builder John Holden Greene, working there for seven years. In 1822, at the age of 21, he established a partnership with William Tallman (d.1862). The firm of Tallman & Bucklin was a design-build firm, similar to Greene's business. in 1846, 20-year-old Thomas A. Tefft began working for Tallman & Bucklin. Before long, Tefft was doing most of the firm's design work. This continued until 1851, when Tefft finished his studies at Brown University and established his own office. Also at this time, Tallman & Bucklin's partnership was dissolved. Bucklin worked alone for many years. By 1880 he had taken his son, James A. Bucklin (1840-1901), as a partner in J. C. Bucklin & Son. Although son James largely took over the practice, he remained active until his death in September 1890. The office was succeeded by J. A. Bucklin & Company.

In 1829 Bucklin married Lucy Dailey of Providence. They had five surviving children, including son James. Lucy Bucklin died in November, 1888.

Bucklin was a member of the Squantum Association and the Providence Athenaeum, and was considered "a great reader of good books". He was also a member of the First Light Infantry.

Despite having fallen into relative obscurity, Bucklin was a very prominent designer in Providence from the 1840s to the 1870s. He designed at least half a dozen Westminster Street office buildings, as well as several more in other parts of downtown. From 1839 to 1844 Tallman & Bucklin had charge of the city's first major period of school-building, designing 12 buildings citywide. Bucklin also was the designer of several other municipal structures.

For buildings built 1830-31, see Russell Warren.

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