Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives : manuscripts, 1894-1959, bulk 1894-1959
Collection context
- Creator:
- Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959 and Wright, Frank Lloyd, 1867-1959
- Abstract:
- Manuscripts of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright contain his working drafts and final versions of his writings (published and unpublished), lectures, and talks dating from 1894 until his death in 1959. The collection consists of approximately 2,785 drafts amounting to over 31,000 sheets. The manuscripts range from handwritten drafts to heavily corrected typescripts and galley proofs. Included in this comprehensive collection of writings are a large number of unpublished pieces which expand upon Wright's published ideas on architecture, art and aesthetics, and which provide further insights into the architect's views on politics, religion, morality and various other topics.
- Extent:
- 20 linear feet
- Language:
- English .
- Scope and content:
-
The manuscripts are arranged into two groups: Series I: Writings consists of prepublication manuscripts, drafts of articles, lectures, stories, and some fugitive fragments. The series is arranged in loose chronological order, with each subseries representing a decade of Wright's career. Many of the manuscripts in this series are short in length (1 to 10 pages). Series II: Major Texts includes drafts for books published by Wright.
--DESCRIPTION STYLE GUIDE--
Titling and Identification Format:
[Manuscript Title]. [Inclusive Date] *in bold
[Draft Version]: [Draft Title], [Date]. [Form] : [Description] ; [Pagination]
Example:
MSS 2401.431. A New System of Subdivision [City Club]. [1913]
A: A New System Of Subdivision [City Club], [1913?]. Typescript : Ink and pencil corrections ; pp. (1p.), 2-6
B: [A New System of Subdivision / City Club] Author's Statement, [undated]. Typescript : Pencil corrections and ink and color pencil notations ; pp. (1p.), 2-7
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FOUNDATION MANUSCRIPT NUMBER:
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation assigned each manuscript an item number or manuscript number. This number has been maintained as a call number to aid in retrieval and citation. The manuscripts are physically arranged by manuscript number.
Manuscript Number Example--
Wright's essay "Twentieth Century Architecture" was assigned the number "2401.059."
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DRAFT VERSION:
Manuscripts can have anywhere from one draft to ten or more drafts. Each version of a draft is identified by a letter (in alphabetical order, i.e. A, B, C, E, etc.). Draft order does not necessarliy indicate earliest to latest version.
Draft Version Example--
"Twentieth Century Architecture" has five drafts, with the first draft being identified as "2401.059-A" and the last draft in the file being identified as "2401.059-E."
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TITLE:
Titles are transcribed directly from the source. When no title appears on a draft, a supplied title has been added by the cataloger in brackets [ ]. Titles have also been supplied where the existing title requires further descriptive information. In these instances, the bracketed title then serves as the uniform title so that all versions can be found together.
Title Example--
supplied title-- 2401.244-A : [To London]
found title-- 2401.244-B : Rebuild London
supplied title-- 2401.244-C : [To London]
found title-- 2401.244-D : To London
found title-- 2401.244-E : To London
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FORM:
Form refers to the document type. The following document types are represented in the collection: holograph manuscript (written in the author's hand), typescript, carbon typescript, mimeograph typescript, galley proofs, and printed monographs. "Fragment" is applied to all forms in the case of incompleteness, for example, where a draft contains only page 7. Incompleteness would not be for a draft that is missing a couple of pages but is otherwise complete.
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DESCRIPTION:
Description provides information regarding any edits or additions to the document. Types of description can include mentions of pencil corrections, ink corrections, annotations, holograph (handwritten) date changes, appearnce of drawn sketches, extensive holograph re-writes, or notations regarding draft version or lecture history.
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DATE:
Dates are transcribed directly from the source. When no date appears on a draft, a supplied date has been added by the cataloger in brackets. Supplied dates have been sourced from the FLW Foundation's original database. When a supplied date is questionable, the notation of circa (ca.), a question mark (?), or a dash (i.e. 193-) has been added.
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PAGINATION:
Pagination indicates the sequence of numbered pages for each draft. Non-numbered pages are indicated by page count in parentheses.
Pagination Example--
[5 pages, all numbered] : pp. 1-5
[5 pages, all unnumbered] : (5pp.)
[5 pages. 2-4 numbered only] : pp. (1p.), 2-4, (1p.)
- Biographical / historical:
-
Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) was an American Architect internationally recognized for his innovative building design, Taliesin school and fellowship, and philosophy of "organic architecture.".
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.
- Terms of access:
-
Columbia University is providing access to the materials in the Library's collections solely for noncommercial educational and research purposes. The unauthorized use, including, but not limited to, publication of the materials without the prior written permission of Columbia University is strictly prohibited. All inquiries regarding permission to publish should be submitted in writing to the Director, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For additional guidance, see Columbia University Libraries' publication policy.
In addition to permission from Columbia University, permission of the copyright owner (if not Columbia University) and/or any holder of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) may also be required for reproduction, publication, distributions, and other uses. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of any item and securing any necessary permissions rests with the persons desiring to publish the item. Columbia University makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the materials or their fitness for a particular purpose.
- Preferred citation:
-
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives : manuscripts, ca. 1894-1959. The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Archives (The Museum of Modern Art | Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York).
- Location of this collection:
- Before you visit:
- Researchers are encouraged to request materials at least one month in advance. You will receive an email from the department within 2-3 business days confirming your request and currently available appointment times. Requests are limited to 8 boxes per day (or equivalent), with a maximum of 5 boxes for off-site materials, 5 folders of drawings, or 5 rolls or tube boxes.
- Contact:
- avery@library.columbia.edu