Martin (Darwin D.) - Frank Lloyd Wright papers

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 14

Apr 3-Dec 26, 1912

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 2, folder 19

Jan 1-Jun 31, 1916

Box 3, folder 1

Jul 11-Dec 23, 1916

Box 3, folder 2

Jan 2-Jun 28, 1917

Box 3, folder 3

Jul 9-Dec 24, 1917

Box 3, folder 4

Feb 22, 1918

Box 3, folder 5

Jan 15-Nov 1, 1919

Box 3, folder 6

Apr 28-Nov 5, 1920

Box 3, folder 7

Jan 31, 1921

Box 3, folder 8

Jun 27-Oct 27, 1922

Box 3, folder 9

Apr 15-30, 1924

Box 3, folder 10

Jan 2-Mar 31, 1925

Box 3, folder 11

Apr 1-May 14, 1925

Box 3, folder 12

May 16-Jun 30, 1925

Box 3, folder 13

Jul 3-Aug 5, 1925

Box 3, folder 14

Sep 4-Nov 21, 1925

Box 3, folder 15

Apr 15-Jun 22, 1926

Box 3, folder 16

Jun 24-Jul 31, 1926

Box 3, folder 17

Aug 3-Oct 28, 1926

Box 3, folder 18

Nov 4-Dec 30, 1926

Box 4, folder 1

Jan 3-Apr 30, 1927

Box 4, folder 2

May 2-Jun 30, 1927

Box 4, folder 3

Jul 9-Aug 31, 1927

Box 4, folder 4

Sep 7-Oct 31, 1927

Box 4, folder 5

Nov 1-Dec 28, 1927

Box 4, folder 6

Jan 3-Mar 30, 1928

Box 4, folder 7

Apr 5-May 23, 1928

Box 4, folder 8

Jun 1-23, 1928

Box 4, folder 9

July 10 - 31, 1928

Box 4, folder 10

Aug 1-Oct 27, 1928

Box 4, folder 11

Nov 1-30, 1928

Box 4, folder 12

Dec 1-17, 1928

Box 5, folder 1

The Hillside Home School of Allied Arts 1928

Box 5, folder 2

Manuscript for Liberty Magazine [1928?]

Box 5, folder 3

Jan 2-21, 1929

Box 5, folder 4

Feb 1-16, 1929

Box 5, folder 5

Mar 5-29, 1929

Box 5, folder 6

Apr 2-30, 1929

Box 5, folder 7

May 4-Jun 27, 1929

Box 5, folder 8

Jul 1-29, 1929

Box 5, folder 9

Aug 1-20, 1929

Box 5, folder 10

Aug 20-30, 1929

Box 5, folder 11

Aug Sep 4-Oct 21, 1929

Box 5, folder 12

Nov 9-Dec 14, 1929

Box 5, folder 13

Jan 3-Feb 25, 1930

Box 5, folder 14

Apr 12-May 19, 1930

Box 5, folder 15

Jun 2-Jul 24, 1930

Box 5, folder 16

Aug 6-Dec 18, 1930

Box 6, folder 1

Jan 10-Oct 7, 1931

Box 6, folder 2

Feb 6-Dec 2, 1932

Box 6, folder 3

Aug 14-Oct 31, 1933

Box 6, folder 4

Booklets - Guggenheim Fellowship, Taliesin Fellowship 1933

Box 6, folder 5

Mar 3-Dec 31, 1934

Box 6, folder 6

Jan 2-Jul 15, 1935

Box 6, folder 7

Newspaper clippings Apr 24, 1936

Box 6, folder 8

Mar 1-Dec 21, 1938

Box 6, folder 9

Mar 1-Jun 30, 1939

Box 6, folder 10

Bill of Sale 1940

Box 6, folder 11

Nov 5-18, 1941

Box 6, folder 12

Sep 27, 1942-May 11, 1948

Box 6, folder 13

Mar 30, 1949

Box 6, folder 14

Jun 12-Nov 30, 1967

Box 6, folder 15

Jan 5, 1968-Aug 9, 1978

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 17

Auction catalog 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.