Large compilation of Frank Lloyd Wright-related materials from the collection of Christian Science Monitor reporter Bernice Stevens Decker, highlighted by a typed draft of an article by Decker which has been extensively hand-corrected by Wright, and a TLS by Wright. Other materials include letters from Wright’s secretaries, various small publications, magazines, and newspaper clippings.
The remarkable hand-edited typescript draft of Decker’s article is four pages, 8.5 x 11, written from Taliesin (“Spring Green, Wis.”), undated but published in the November 3, 1950 issue of The Christian Science Monitor. The draft has been extensively edited by Wright, with approximately 100 handwritten notations and textual corrections in his hand. The article was published following an exclusive interview with Wright on his latest work on inexpensive pre-fabricated housing. In part (Wright’s handwritten notations shown in italics): “Hope for the family that wants a low cost house that the members can build themselves is about to come off the drafting boards at Taliesin, home and workshop of Frank Lloyd Wright, world-famous Architect. Elimination of the need of any skilled labor or costly materials in the actual building process and the proper and efficient use of available materials everywhere will mean a $4,500 house equivalent to one costing $12,000 today. Mr. Wright, who is now perfecting plans which will make such low cost building possible on a large scale, predicts that plans will be ready for practical application next Spring. The same principles are already being used in his building of moderately priced homes…The houses are constructed entirely of especially designed pre-cast concrete blocks, re-inforced at both horizontal and vertical joints with small metal rods…The possibility of owning a minimum cost Wright-designed house will be welcome news to many people. For some 56 years Mr. Wright has been startling the world with his advanced designs. His low, free flowing Prairie houses that seem to grow out of the landscape around Chicago built just at the turn of the century, are still considered modern by today’s standards…Most of his most ardent admirers and supporters of his architectural work and advanced ideas have been those who felt they could no afford Mr. Wright’s work. To this group in particular his entry into the low-cost housing field will soon be regarded as one of his most valuable contributions to the life of our time…Anyone who visits the great drafting room at Taliesin sees this quotation carved on the wall, ‘What a man does, that he has.’ It is the principle behind the production of these new Usonian houses, and also the basis on which the Taliesin Fellowship is founded to produce and serve a natural Architecture.” Includes a cover letter signed by Wright’s secretary Eugene Masselink, September 20, 1950: “Mr. Wright has made a few notations on your story and it has his approval.” Also includes a carbon copy of a re-edited typed version of the draft, incorporating Wright’s changes.
The TLS is signed “FLLW,” one page, 11 x 8.5, Taliesin letterhead, July 30, 1957, to Bernice Stevens Decker, in full: “You are welcome. So far as we know Sunday August 10th would be convenient for us—just let us know if you can come up then or what other date is preferable.”
Additional items include: two other TLSs by Wright’s secretary Eugene Masselink, three carbon copies of letters sent by Decker to Wright, several letters sent to Decker by editors and associates, several printed announcements and brochures, press releases, two typed transcripts of a conversation between Wright and author Carl Sandburg on WTTW-TV (with a glossy 10 x 8 photo of Sandburg, signed and inscribed in fountain pen to Decker by Sandburg), twelve pages of Decker’s notes taken while interviewing Wright, a number of press photos of Wright, and numerous newspaper clippings and magazines. An itemized inventory list is available online at RRAuction.com. The archive is contained within two large custom-made clamshell cases, foxed on the exterior, with a somewhat musty overall odor. In overall very good to fine condition.
