Monthly Update

Important Archival Processing Update

The mounting of the recently acquired Henry Fuermann and Sons Frank Lloyd Wright Negative Collection has advanced. The initial descriptive structure of these historic materials is now visible online, although images are still in the process of being scanned and will be added when available. Astonishingly, these important materials have never been fully treated in a formal archival inventory. OA+D Archives is doing the first comprehensive cataloging in consultation with specialist historians, and this necessity has taken additional time. Scanning of the negative plates continues and we are examining issues related to decay or damage of the original emulsion. We again thank those who have supported this work with their generous donations and are prioritizing sponsored negatives. If you are a supporting patron, we will send you a notification when your “adopted” image is online.

The vision for the OA+D Archives catalog has always been broader than a simple listing of our holdings. We also want to support research in general on organic architecture and design. To that end, we incorporate links to external resources related to our holdings. Already present in the catalog are many links to the Frank Lloyd Wright Archives and related Taliesin Architects materials found in the Avery Library at Columbia University. Links to Frank Lloyd Wright drawings available at ArtStor are also noted as we catalog more Wright project documentation in our collections. We have also recently added links to Taliesin-era drawings by John H. Howe found in his papers at the Northwest Architectural Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries.

The secret of the OA+D Archives catalog is in the indexing. Our indexing strategy presents by default an efficient top-down approach for search returns. Rather than show everything everywhere all at once as many institutions do, we offer succinct points of entry to collection inventories that allow a progressive experience of unfolding discovery. Of course, if you do want to dive into the entire pool of related information, you can find a link on every search display that will take you to the Primary Index Entry, where all that can be found in the cataloging system is presented in one place.

All of this happens only with the generous financial support of donors like you! If you are able to donate tax-deductible funds to keep this important work moving forward, then please visit our online donation portal HERE or feel free to mail us a check made out to "OAD Archives" to:

OAD Archives • 365 S. Arizona Ave. • Chandler, AZ 85225


From The Archives

The OA+D Archives collections hold a large quantity of materials related to Frank Lloyd Wright's younger sister, Maginel Wright Barney. Maginel was an artist in her own right who became very well known for her magazine covers, book illustrations, and in later life, her "yarn paintings." OA+D is lucky enough to have one of these “yarn paintings” which depicts the large oak tree in front of Tan-y-Deri on the Taliesin Estate in abstracted yarn stitches. It is also titled "Under the Oak" and signed by the artist on the back of the panel. You can see it posted on our catalog site here.

If you have materials that are related to the work of Maginel Wright Barney (or any other organic architectural or design items) that you're interested in donating to join our growing collections, please let us know by contacting us at info@oadarchives.org.

Courtesy OA+D Archives/William Blair Scott, Jr. Collection

OA+D NEWS & EVENTS

Be Sure To Renew Your Subscription For Spring!

Spring is almost here and with the warmer weather and flowers blooming the next issue of the Journal OA+D will not be too far away! The Spring 2024 issue will focus on Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House and will be guest edited by Kathryn Smith. More information will be released in next month's newsletter, but this is the perfect time to make sure you're subscription the journal is up-to-date so you will be one of the first to receive this exciting publication.

If you're not already a subscriber, then consider signing up to get all three issues a year. You not only can expect to receive our wonderful publication, but you will also be helping to support OA+D and its mission!

RE-NEW OR SIGN UP HERE

Photograph by Henry Fuermann and Sons. Courtesy OA+D Archives Henry Fuermann and Sons Frank Lloyd Wright Negative Collection.