Collections : [Avery Drawings & Archives]

Small collection of primarily English drafting tools dating from around the mid to late 19th century.

The Francis W. B. Yorke papers consist of correspondence, photographs, writings, clippings, and some sketches. The majority of the correspondence in the collection is between Francis W. B. Yorke and his cousin Florence Bridgen dated from 1925 until 1956 (approx. 44 items). One letter in particular, dated 27 Jun 1952, goes into particular detail on the construction of ice houses and underscores Yorke's interest and authority on the topic. The collection also contains 3 letters to Florence Bridgen not from F.W.B. Yorke. The photographs in the collection are from circa 1924-1925 and include two snapshots of the Yorke family and one portrait of a woman (possibly F.W.B. Yorkle's wife Mary or his cousin Florence Bridgen). Writings of Yorke's represented in this collection include the 1956 article "Some Midland Ice-Houses" a published letter from Yorke following a visit to Warsaw in connection with the I.U.A. Working Committee on Housing, an order form for Yorke's seminal 1949 work "The Planning and Equipment of Public Houses" and other miscellaneous clippings. There are also miscellaneous literary articles, typescripts, and poems probably written by F. W. B. Yorke, however, authorship is difficult to confirm. The collection also includes obituaries for Yorke and various clippings and articles on Yorke's architectural projects such as the Ilmington Sports Pavilion, The Shrieves House, and the Sir Thomas Herbert's House. The collection also includes 28 travel sketches and early student works, however, it is unclear if Yorke is the creator of these drawings. A letter written to Florence Bridgen from Yorke's daughter (?) indicates that the drawings are probably not by her father. However, it is also unclear if the letter is referring to all the sketches in the collection or just a small portion. Finally, the collection also includes greeting cards illustrated with reproduction of Yorke's drawings.

Approximately 1,000 architectural drawings, circa 1880-1959, with related correspondence, clippings, announcements, specifications, legal documents, and photographs. Major projects represented include Auldbrass Plantation, Yemasee, S.C; the Guggenheim Museum, New York City; Fallingwater (the Edgar J. Kaufmann residence), Bear Run, Pa.; and Wright's own home and studio in Oak Park, Ill. Also, Wright's correspondence relating to exhibits and publication of his work; other professional matters; and correspondence with his son, John Lloyd Wright, 1920s-1950s; manuscript, typescript, and printed versions of articles and addresses by Wright; photographs, programs, invitations, issues of SQUARE-PAPERS, and other materials, circa 1920s-1940s, relating to Taliesin; and miscellaneous invitations, programs, announcements, honors, appreciations, memorials, clippings, and other documents relating to various aspects of Wright's career.

The collection includes over 140,000 pages of correspondence, which serves as a core resource for understanding Wright's personal and professional activities, relationships, and ideas. The correspondence also includes project records such as specifications, contracts, supply orders, invoices and receipts. Letters from the 1880s through the 1920s accounts for only 2% of the total correspondence in the collection (approximately 2,000 documents). The bulk of the correspondence is from the 1930s until Wright's death in 1959.

This collection includes over 300 film reels which have been digitized. By format, the collection contains 179 16mm film, 109 8mm film, and 17 35mm film. While the inclusive dates of the collection range from 1922 to 1984, the bulk of the films are from the 1930s into the 1960s. Footage includes home movies of Wright and family, life and events of the Taliesin Fellowship, and informal site and building visits. The collection also includes documentaries on Wright's career and projects, as well as professional produced interviews and talks by Wright and promotional coverage of his built works.

The Oral Histories collection is made up of audio recordings, videotapes, and transcripts of interviews conducted by Foundation members. The oral histories document the life and activities of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Fellowship. Interviewees include apprentices, clients, family, friends and acquaintances, scholars, associates, and other architects.