Louis H. Sullivan architectural drawings, 1875-1922

Summary

Creator:

Sullivan, Louis H., 1856-1924

Abstract:

American architect. Pencil drawings of architectural ornament details, preliminary drawings for the Merchants National Bank, Grinnell, Iowa, and early humor and figure studies; also manuscript, 1922, entitled, "The Chicago Tribune Competition."

Extent:

1 folder (photocopies)
2 boxes (framed originals)

Language:

English

Call Number:

92961 Aa 1

Authors:

Finding aid created by Michigan Historical Collections staff

Background

Scope and Content:

Pencil drawings of architectural ornament details, preliminary drawings for the Merchants National Bank, Grinnell, Iowa, and early humor and figure studies; also manuscript, 1922, entitled, "The Chicago Tribune Competition." This collection was accumulated by University of Michigan architecture professor Emil Lorch.

Biographical / Historical:

American architect, born Sept. 3, 1856 in Boston, Massachusetts. He studied architecture under William Ware and Eugene Letang at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sullivan moved to Chicago in 1873 and obtained work with William LeBaron Jenney. Studied at the Ecole de Beaus-Arts in Paris for brief time in 1874 before returning to Chicago where he worked as a draftsman in the office of Joseph S. Johnston & John Edelman. In 1879 Sullivan joined the firm of Dankmar Adler and by 1883 had become a partner in the firm of Adler & Sullivan. The firm designed over 180 buildings during its existence, primarily residential, and office buildings. The firm employed a number of young draftsmen and architects--Frank Lloyd Wright, George Elmslie and William Purcell-- who, influenced by Sullivan's philosophy, would develop the Prairie Style of architecture. Adler left the firm in 1895. Sullivan's practice began to decline over the next five years but he did complete one of his most famous designs for the Schlesinger and Mayer department store (later Carson, Pirie, Scott) in Chicago. After the turn of the century Sullivan's practice consisted mainly of small banks and commercial buildings in the Midwest, most notably the Farmer's National Bank in Owatanna, Minnesota. Sullivan died April 14, 1924.

Acquisition Information:

The materials were found in the papers of Professor Emil Lorch (donor no. 4041 ). Provenance is otherwise unknown.

Subjects

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Subjects:

Architecture.

Formats:

Architectural drawings.
Cartoons.
Drawings.

Names:

Merchants National Bank (Grinnell, Iowa)
Lorch, Emil, 1870-1963.