Guide to the Darwin D. Martin - Frank Lloyd Wright Papers M0355
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
1999 ; revised 2024
Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford 94305-6064
Fax Number: (650) 723-8690
specialcollections@stanford.edu
Contributing Institution:
Department of Special Collections and University Archives
Title: Darwin D. Martin - Frank Lloyd Wright Papers
Identifier/Call Number: M0355
Physical Description:
8 Linear Feet
(7 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): 1883-1982 (inclusive), 1904-1949 (bulk)
Date (bulk): 1904-1949
Abstract: Correspondence and other documents between businessman Darwin D. Martin and architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Note that material must be requested at least 36 hours in advance of intended use.
Conditions Governing Use
While Special Collections is the owner of the physical and digital items, permission to examine collection materials is not
an authorization to publish. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Any transmission
or reproduction beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the owners of rights, heir(s) or assigns.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Partial gift of Jean and Paul Hanna and the Library Associates, 1982 and 1983.
Biographical / Historical
Darwin Denice Martin (1865–1935) was an early 20th-century businessman who worked for the Larkin Company of Buffalo, New York.
After contracting with architect Frank Lloyd Wright for the design of administration building for Larkin, Martin also had
Wright build homes for his family and became a friend, confidant and financial supporter, as evident in the numerous exchanges
present in these papers.
Scope and Contents
Note that most documents dated 1888-1914 are photocopies. Originals are located at University Archives, State University of
New York at Buffalo.
Includes more than 200 letters from Wright and over 2,000 letters to Wright from Martin. Wright's letters refer to design
and construction issues, as well as financial matters. Also includes drafts of manuscripts which Wright prepared for publication.
Martin was a supporter of the Tuskegee Institute and donated Larkin soap to help underwrite construction of a teacher's cottage
in 1902; the collection contains original signed letters from Booker T. Washington from 1907 to 1914, most of which are appeals
for for further support. Wright, no doubt with Martin's encouragement, later designed a Rosenwald-funded building (never realized)
for the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, and there are letters from and to the Institute's James E. Gregg circa
1927-1928.
Also included are letters and other items from other members of Martin's family including brother W.E. Martin and son Darwin
R. Martin. There are a few letters from both Wright and Martin's spouses at various times. Files from after Martin's death
are mostly about his son's efforts to recoup Wright's debts to his father, as well as later letters (1967-1968) about the
disposition of some Wright furniture, and newspaper clippings highlighting Wright's increasing canonization.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item] Darwin D. Martin - Frank Lloyd Wright Papers, M0355, Dept. of Special Collections, Stanford Libraries,
Stanford, Calif.
Related Materials
University at Buffalo Libraries holds the Darwin D. Martin Papers and Larkin Company Inc. Records, 1857–1960:
https://research.lib.buffalo.edu/martin-wright/home
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Architects.
Series 1. Martin family personal correspondence etc.
Box 1, folder 1
Oct 5, 1883-Dec 18, 1915
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 2
A Trip to California, by D.D. Martin
June - July 1915
Scope and Contents
Includes original mimeographed typescript and later typed transcript.
Box 1, folder 3
Personal letters, Martin family & friends
Dec 20, 1916-Mar 9, 1927, undated
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 4
Personal letters, Martin family & friends
Apr 1, 1927-Oct 8, 1931
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 5
Personal letters, Martin family & friends
Nov 2, 1931-Sep 5, 1933
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Series 2. Frank Lloyd Wright correspondence etc.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, memoranda, notes and other material, much of which is addressed to or concerning Martin. Some Martin documents
appear to be unrelated to Wright.
Box 1, folder 6
1888, 1893, 1897
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 7
Oct 22-Dec 10, 1902
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 8
[1902]
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 9
Mar 20-Dec 29, 1903
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 10
Barton House Specifications
15-Jul-03
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 11
Barton House Specifications
26-Oct-03
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 12
January 2-21, 1904
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 13
Apr 29-Jul 30, 1904
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 14
Aug 1-25, 1904
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 15
Sep 8-Oct 8, 1904
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 16
Oct 11-Nov 25, 1904
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 17
Dec 7-28, 1904
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 18
Marin House Specifications
13-Jul-04
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 19
[1904]
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 20
Jan 16-Mar 31, 1905
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 21
Apr 15-May 31, 1905
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 22
Jun 3-Sep 29, 1905
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 1, folder 23
Oct 2-Nov 29, 1905
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
map-folder 8
FLW sketches, blueprints, etc. of the D.D. Martin house in Buffalo, N.Y. 1904-1909 (28 photocopies)
Box 2, folder 1
Dec 5-30, 1905
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 2, folder 2
Martin House Specifications
5-Mar-05
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 2, folder 3
Jan 2-Mar 24, 1906
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 2, folder 4
Apr 17-Dec 11, 1906
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 2, folder 5
The New Edifice of Unity Church
June 1906
Scope and Contents
The New Edifice of Unity Church, Oak Park, Illinois. Frank Lloyd Wright, Architect. Descriptive and Historical Matter by Dr.
Rodney F. Johonnot, Pastor. Published by the New Unity Church Club, June, Nineteen Hundred and Six.
Box 2, folder 6
Jan 4-Dec 19, 1907
Material Specific Details: [one original, rest photocopies]
Scope and Contents
Includes letter from Booker T. Washington as Principal of Tuskegee Normal And Industrial Institute to Martin, dated March
29, 1907. In 1902 Martin donated $500 worth of Larkin soap to help underwrite the construction of a teachers' cottage (called
"Larkin Cottage"). In this letter, Washington solicited Martin for further contributions toward additional cottages.
Box 2, folder 7
Mar 9-Dec 29, 1908
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 2, folder 8
Aug 9-Sep 16, 1909
Material Specific Details: [[one original doucment, rest photocopies]
Scope and Contents
Includes original signed letter by Booker T. Washington as Principal of Tuskegee Normal & Industrial Institute to Martin,
dated July 22, 1909.
Box 2, folder 9
Jan 2-Nov 17, 1910
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 2, folder 10
Nov 19-Dec 30, 1910
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 2, folder 11
Jan 4-Jun 17, 1911
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 2, folder 12
Jun 22-Dec 27, 1911
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 2, folder 13
Jan 24-Mar 30, 1912
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 2, folder 15
Jan 10-Sep 17, 1913
Material Specific Details: [one original, rest photocopies]
Scope and Contents
Includes original typescript financial agreement dated April 4, 1913.
Box 2, folder 16
Sep 19-Dec 10, 1913
Material Specific Details: [photocopies]
Box 2, folder 17
Feb 12-Oct 29, 1914
Material Specific Details: [one original, rest photocopies]
Scope and Contents
Includes original signed letter by Booker T. Washington as Principal of Tuskegee Normal & Industrial Institute to Martin,
dated December 28, 1914. Washington asks Martin's permission to run an advertisement (not enclosed) in the
Negro Farmer magazine.
Box 2, folder 18
Mar 11-Dec 10, 1915
Scope and Contents
Includes two letters from Booker T. Washington to Martin, and three letters between Catherine Wright and Martin.
Box 5, folder 1
The Hillside Home School of Allied Arts
1928
Box 5, folder 2
Manuscript for Liberty Magazine
[1928?]
Box 6, folder 4
Booklets - Guggenheim Fellowship, Taliesin Fellowship
1933
Box 6, folder 7
Newspaper clippings
Apr 24, 1936
Box 6, folder 12
Sep 27, 1942-May 11, 1948
Box 6, folder 16
2 photographs: FLW and Iovanna, Olgivanna Wright and Iovanna
Series 3. 1983 Addenda (Accession 1983-49)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
From Mrs. Darwin Martin via California Book Auction Galleries Sale 194, March 27, 1983.
Box 6, folder 18
Mortgage on Oak Park Property, Lot 244
1911-1919
Scope and Contents
File of approx. 75 letters & documents relating to Darwin D. Martin's assumption of the mortgage on Wright's Oak Park property.
Included is a blueprint of the property subdivision, the original of which has Wright's full signature as owner & is here
reproduced in facsimile. Martin's letters are carbon copies, others are usually originals signed.Some interesting remarks
by Martin on Wright's inept business prowess & detailed documentation of the problems of unraveling the loans, liens & trusts
on the property.
Box 6, folder 19
Alfred MacArthur Letters, Also F.L. Wright, Lot 245
1916-1922
Scope and Contents
File of approx. 300 sheets of correspondence between Darwin D. Martin & Alfred MacArthur, general insurance agent & sometime
debt collector & insurer of Wright, who moved into Wright's Oak Park home agreeing to take over the mortgage from Martin.
Extensive details of Wright's financial contortions & inability to meet financial obligations. Letters are mostly TLS from
MacArthur & carbon copies from Martin. Set in original file folder.
Box 6, folder 20
Frank Lloyd Wright, La Folette Letters re Taliesen Foreclosure, Lot 246
Scope and Contents
3pp. TLS from lawyers LaFollette, Sinykin & Doyle reporting records concerning the foreclosure sale of Wright property in
Oak Park with a list of previous mortgages & judgments prior to Darwin Martin's interest. Sept. 21, 1948. 2 TLS from the Library
of Congress to Martin family regarding loans of Wright material for an exhibition, with a carbon copy of a reply from Darwin
R. Martin. 1949. The Architectural Record for March 1908, containing "In the Cause of Architecture" by Wright. News clippings
relating to Wright's death & unveiling of Martin home in Buffalo by New York University, 1959 & 1971. Together, 6 items.
Box 7, folder 1
Lot 259A
1927-1928
Scope and Contents
Copies of seven legal documents relating to Wright & Frank Lloyd Wright Inc. 2 pp. subscription agreement for capital stock
in proposed FLW Inc. (1927) + 3 pp. draft contract of employment for Wright providing for $6000 salary & 50% of profits postponed
for 15 years. 5pp. carbon of contract between Wright & Frank Lloyd Wright Inc. to form a corporation & contracting to employ
Wright & taking over all his property without right of redemption. 3pp. copy of certificate of incorporation of FLW Inc stating
objects of company, stockholders, etc. A notarized indenture between Wright Inc. & D. D. Martin transferring 2/3 interest
in property in Wisconsin. Notarized agreement between Martin & Wright Inc. to sell back property acquired in the previous
agreement, on payment of $20,000 by Oct. 1st, 1936. Copy agreement between Wright Inc. & Wright where the corporation advanced
payment for his ex-wife's settlement & alimony dated Aug. 25, 1927. Together, 7 documents.
Box 7, folder 2
Wright, Inc., LaFollette, Noel Divorce, FLW Legal, Lot 260
June 13, 1927-June 24, 1929
Scope and Contents
File of approx. 50 pp. of TLS, carbons & telegrams between Philip LaFollette & Darwin D. Martin, mainly concerned with the
financial situation of Wright Inc., new prospects, slight references to the possible deportation of Wright's future wife,
discussion on the sale of Japanese prints by the bank & many provisions for Wright's salary & interest in the corporation.
Box 7, folder 3
Wright, Inc., Lot 261
1927-1930
Scope and Contents
File of approx. 50 pp. of correspondence between Darwin D. Martin & Dr. Ferdinand Schevill, first president of Frank Lloyd
Wright Incorporated. Details include plan to delay bank's sale of Wright items, subsequent letters reporting lawyer Philip
J. LaFollette's bad handling & a suggestion of fraud by the bank in selling prints to Prof. Van Vleck for only $4000 when
they were worth many times that amount. Also letters from law firm of Kroon & Kroon detailing incorporation of FLW Inc. in
Illinois; delays reported on projects for 1929/30; president's report to stockholders, 10/31/30, etc.
Box 7, folder 4
B.E. Page - La Follette - FLW, Lot 262
1929-1930
Scope and Contents
File of approx. 25 pp. of correspondence, incl. typed letters, some signed, carbons & telegrams, between B. E. Page, treasurer
of Wright Inc., & D. D. Martin between July 1929 & July 1930. This period was taken up mainly with forming a new corporation
making those who had made loans to Wright Inc. shareholders & giving Wright a directorship rather than a free hand as president/owner.
During this period Philip LaFollette resigned as attorney & began legal action for his payment which was contested by the
new corporation on the grounds of his incompetency. Details of directorships, officers & indebtedness are also documented.