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Edgar J. Kaufmann papers on Fallingwater, 1909-1976, bulk 1932-1955

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Series I: Correspondence

This series contains correspondence pertaining to Frank Lloyd Wright's projects for Edgar J. Kaufmann, including nearly 500 letters, various telegrams and notes, and related documents, such as engineering drawings and reports, legal documents, photographs, surveys, shipping documents and invoices. The files are arranged chronologically and then by project, where possible. In the cases that projects overlap in the chronology, the files have been arranged hierarchically, with Fallingwater as the most significant project.

Roughly half of the contents of this series is correspondence regarding Fallingwater. Other projects include the Point Park project and Edgar J. Kaufmann's office in Kaufmann's Department Store, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Monona Terrace Project, in Madison, Wisconsin, and the Gateway Center.

The correspondence delineates the personal and professional relationship between Kaufmann and Wright, a relationship fraught with disagreements, insecurities, accusations, money woes, criticisms, and general miscommunications –mostly on the part of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Also included is correspondence related to the construction and later restoration of Fallingwater, including reports and drawings attached to assessments and recommendations from engineers expressing concerns about the construction of the home and later recommendations for the reinforcement of its structural supports.

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Box 01 Folder 01 Edgar J. Kaufmann and Alan Crawford Correspondence, 1909-1970

Letter : 1 items ; Envelope : 1 item ; correspondence between Alan Crawford and Edgar J. Kaufmann regarding attached photocopied letters between Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Robert Ashbee that were partially published in Archival History v. 13, 1970 pp. 64-76


Box 01 Folder 02 Various projects, 1935-1976

Letters : 13 items ; Notes : 2 items ; Envelope : 1 item ; Invitation to dedication of S. C. Johnson & Son Research and Development Building : 1 item ; re : correspondence between Irwin D. Wolf, Frank Lloyd Wright, Edgar J. Kaufmann, et al.


Box 01 Folder 03 Broadacre City models, 1935

Letters : 15 items ; 1 sheet of paper marked by Edgar J. Kaufmann Jr., "Broadacre City Models" ; re : correspondence between Edgar J. Kaufmann, Edgar J. Kaufmann Jr., Frank Lloyd Wright, Tom J. Maloney, ET, KG Weixel


Box 01 Folder 04 Edgar J. Kaufmann's office, Kaufmann's department store, 1935-1955

Letters : 60 items ; Notes : 2 items ; Purchase order forms : 3 items ; re : correspondence between Edgar J. Kaufmann, Frank Lloyd Wright, NS Fink, American Plywood Corp, Studio of Loja Saarinen, Emanuel J. Sandoval regarding textiles, etc.


Box 01 Folder 05 Fallingwater, Construction, 1935-1939

Letters : 34 items ; Wires : 4 items ; Memorandum : 1 item ; letter dated January 19, 1937 has 1 copy ; letter dated January 21, 1937 has 1 copy ; re : construction of house ; correspondents : Frank Lloyd Wright, Edgar J. Kaufmann, Edgar Tafel, Earnest Ottenberg, C.F. Thumm, Robert Mosher, Kaufmann Dept. Stores


Box 01 Folder 06 Fallingwater, Fees and Cash, 1935-1939

Letters : 20 items ; Notes : 10 items ; re : correspondence primarily between Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar J. Kaufmann


Box 01 Folder 07 Fallingwater, Windows, 1936-1938

Letters : 9 items ; letter dated January 14, 1936 has 2 copies ; Invoices : 5 items ; re : correspondence between Edgar Tafel, Hope's Windows Inc., CF Thumm, P. Larsen Co.


Box 01 Folder 08 Fallingwater, Kitchen Cabinets and Counter, 1937

Letters : 5 items ; re : correspondence between C.T. Schwartz, L.A. Rust, Kaufmann's, Edgar J. Kaufmann Jr.


Box 01 Folder 09 Fallingwater, Upholstery, 1937

Letters : 8 items ; re : correspondence between Edgar J. Kaufmann, Dunlop Tire and Rubber Corp.


Box 01 Folder 10 Fallingwater, Bathroom for Mrs. Kaufmann, 1937

Letters : 21 items ; letter dated June 10, 1937 has 1 copy ; letter dated August 15, 1937 has 1 copy ; letter dated September 17, 1937 has 1 copy ; re : Edgar J. Kaufmann, C.F. Thumm, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., Macbeth-Evans Glass Co., Corning Glass Works, Fostoria Glass Co.


Box 01 Folder 11 Fallingwater, Concrete surfacing, 1937

Letters : 15 items ; Wires : 5 items ; Invoice : 1 item ; Note : 1 item ; re : correspondence between Frank Lloyd Wright, Edgar J. Kaufmann, The Super-Concrete Emulsions Primitive Company


Box 01 Folder 12 Fallingwater, Ceiling panels, 1937

Letters : 12 items ; letter dated September 18 has 1 copy ; Envelope : 1 item ; Receipt : 1 item ; Business card : 1 item ; Drawings : 3 items re : between Edgar J. Kaufmann Jr., Frank Lloyd Wright, Gillen Woodwork Corp. ; drawings of Kaufmann House


Box 01 Folder 13 Fallingwater, Woodwork, 1937-1939

Letters : 43 items ; Shipping documents : 12 items ; re : dispute regarding warped doors due to possible water exposure, Edgar Tafel's comments


Box 01 Folder 14 Fallingwater, Photography, 1946-1951

Letters : 3 items ; letter dated February 7, 1951 has attached newspaper clipping ; re : photographs and news clipping of Fallingwater ; correspondence between Hedrich-Blessing and Edgar J. Kaufmann, J.A. Wagner and E. Clinton


Box 01 Folder 15 Fallingwater, Sinking foundation, 1947-1954

Letters : 5 items ; 1 slip of paper that reads "FALLINGWATER" ; re : correspondence between Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar J. Kaufmann regarding sinking of the house


Box 01 Folder 16 Fallingwater, Ventilation issues, 1951-1954

Letters : 13 items; re : correspondence between E.J. Kaufmannn and Frank Lloyd Wright/Taliesin pertaining to ventilation issues of Fallingwater; also includes correspondence with Roy Oliver, Maintenance Manger at Kaufmannn Dept. stores


Box 01 Folder 17 Fallingwater, Engineering reports, 1920-1940

Letters : 51 items ; Notes : 2 items ; Survey drawings : 2 items ; re : correspondence, Morris Knowles to Edgar J. Kaufmann, delineates concerns regarding the foundation of Fallingwater


Box 01 Folder 18 Fallingwater, Engineering reports, 1936-1955

Letters : 102 items ; includes elevation reports, invoices and plans showing check points ; Notes : 5 items ; Engineering drawing (original) : 1 item ; re : correspondence between Edgar J. Kaufmann and engineering firms regarding rebuilding/changes/additions ; Some letter have attached perspective drawing, elevation reports and graphic representations of deflection of reference points ; Some letters have copies.


Box 01 Folder 19 Fallingwater, Engineering reports, 1948-1955

Letters : 3 items ; attached engineering drawings and reports ; re : movement in the cantilevers


Box 01 Folder 20 Fallingwater, Engineering reports, 1959

Letter : 1 item ; attached black and white photograph (Frank Lloyd Wright standing in front of Broadacre City model) ; Engineering drawings : 2 items ; Engineers report : 1 item ; re : correspondence between Kaufmann's, from Gustav Stueber Prof. Building; engineers' reports


Box 01 Folder 21 Frank Lloyd Wright, Edgar J. Kaufmann Sr. , Gerald M. Loeb, 1936-1958

Letters : 6 items ; envelopes : 3 items ; re : discord between Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar J. Kaufmann


Box 01 Folder 22 Point Park project, Pittsburgh (Pa.), 1945-1954

Letters : 24 items ; City ordinance of Pittsburgh : 1 item ; re : discord between Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar J. Kaufmann


Box 01 Folder 23 Point Park project, Pittsburgh (Pa.), 1948-1953

Letters : 14 items ; 1 slip of paper that reads "POINT PARK proj." ; re : discord between Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar J. Kaufmann


Box 01 Folder 24 Point Park project, Pittsburgh (Pa.), 1950-1972

Letters : 22 items ; letter dated August 1, 1952 has 1 copy ; letter dated June 25, 1953 has 1 copy ; letter dated December 29, 1953 has 1 copy ; letter dated January 4, 1955 has 1 copy ; Envelopes : 3 items* ; Note : 1 item ; re : payment for services


Box 01 Folder 25 Miscellaneous Correspondence regarding payment, 1948-1954

Letters : 23 items ; letter dated August 2, 1954 has 1 copy ; letter dated October 19, 1954 has 1 copy ; Financial statements : 3 items ; Envelopes : 3 items ; re : payment


Box 02 Folder 01 Frank Lloyd Wright, Liliane S. Kaufmann and Edgar J. Kaufmann Sr. and Jr., 1948-1953

Letters : 8 items ; 1 slip of paper that reads "General Correspondence, Kaufmann - Wright" ; re : marital discord between the Kaufmanns


Box 02 Folder 02 Tunnel through William Penn Way, 1949

Letters : 8 items ; Envelope : 1 item ; re : correspondence between Edgar J. Kaufmann Jr., Richard Mellon, Max Abramovitz, Roy Oliver, U.S. Steel, et al.


Box 02 Folder 03 Spiral Parking Garage, 1949 December 21

Letter : 1 item : 3 p. ; 1 slip of paper that reads "SPIRAL PARKING GARAGE proj."; signed letter from Edgar J. Kaufmann to Frank Lloyd Wright regarding "difficulties" with the project conditions and plans


Box 02 Folder 04 National Council of Architectural Registration Boards letter of reference for Frank Lloyd Wright, 1950 September 14

Letter : 1 item ; re : letter in support of his 'registration' as architect; correspondence: Edgar J. Kaufmann, HF Johnson


Box 02 Folder 05 Gateway Center, 1950 November

Letters : 5 items ; letter dated November 18, 1950 has 1 copy and 2 drafts ; re : correspondence between Edgar J. Kaufmann, Equitable Life Assurance Co., Rene D'Harnoncourt (Director of MoMA) ; proposal for MoMA project


Box 02 Folder 06 Point View Apartments, 1951-1953

Letters : 2 items ; correspondence between Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar J. Kaufmann regarding plans


Box 02 Folder 07 Rhododendron Chapel, 1953 March

Letter : 1 item ; 1 slip of paper that reads "RHODODENDRON CHAPEL proj."


Box 02 Folder 08 Monona Terrace Project, Madison, Wis., 1953

Letters : 5 items ; 1 slip of paper that reads "MONONA TERRACE proj." ; re : correspondence between Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar J. Kaufmann


Box 02 Folder 09 Frank Lloyd Wright exhibition, Guggenheim Museum, 1953-1954

Letters : 30 items ; letter dated 29 March 1954 has 2 copies ; each of 2 letters dated 13 April 1954 has 1 copy; re : payment for glass used in exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum. Letters from Wright, Edgar J. Kaufmann, R.F. Barker, and James H. Beal.


Box 02 Folder 10 Proposed publication of Frank Lloyd Wright's works, 1952-1953

Letters : 4 items ; letter dated May 12, 1953 has attached memorandum ; Memoranda : 4 items ; re: correspondence between Edgar J. Kaufmann, Edgar J. Kaufmann Jr. and Ezra Stoller ; includes legal agreements between Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar J. Kaufmann


Box 02 Folder 11 "60 Years of Living Architecture" traveling exhibition, 1953-1954

Letters : 9 items ; letter dated February 4, 1954 has 1 copy ; re : correspondence between Frank Lloyd Wright, Edgar J. Kaufmann, P.S. Smith, Shigeru Ito, and Kei Ishii, regarding exh. in Japan/Philippines


Box 02 Folder 12 Frank Lloyd Wright- Edgar J. Kaufmann correspondence list, c. 1972

List of letters by Edgar Kaufmann, Jr.: 1 p.