The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust's expanding collections demonstrate the influences on Wright during the early period of his career and provide a glimpse of his development as an architect and designer. They comprise outstanding examples of architectural and decorative designs created by Frank Lloyd Wright; fine and decorative art collected by Wright and his first wife Catherine Tobin Wright; and original documents, correspondence and historical artifacts from Wright's early career.
 

Architectural and decorative designs by Frank Lloyd Wright

Dining room Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Oak Park, IL Photographer: Hedrich Blessing

Much of the Wright-designed furniture, art glass, light fixtures and decorative objects are on permanent display at the Preservation Trust's two historic sites - the Oak Park Home and Studio and the Frederick C. Robie House. Highlights such as Wright's seminal design for a dining room suite, which includes an original, quarter-sawn oak dining table and eight spindle back chairs are displayed in the 1895 dining room - Wright's first integrated design for an interior space. At the Robie House, elaborately patterned art glass French doors are used to stunning effect in the living and dining room areas to blur the distinction between exterior and interior space.
 

Fine and decorative art collected by Wright and Catherine Tobin Wright

Japanese kimono pattern from the personal collection of Frank Lloyd Wright c. 1880-1905 Gift of David and Gladys Wright. 1990.34.161.41 Photographer: Philip Mrozinski

The architect's own collection of Japanese prints, books, textiles, and other decorative objects attests to his early passion for Japanese art and culture. These collections demonstrate the influences on Wright during the early period of his career and shed light on the development of his extraordinary architectural talent.
 

Original documents, correspondence and historical artifacts from Wright's early career

Frank Lloyd Wright and Catherine Tobin Wright, artists Sketch: Spiderwort c. 1889 Gift of David and Gladys Wright. 1987.35.11g Photographer: Philip Mrozinski

Architectural fragments, drafting tools, drawings and correspondence illuminate the social and architectural environment of the Oak Park drafting studio and Wright's work in Chicago. Other highlights of the museum collections include rare free-hand sketches done by Frank Lloyd and Catherine Tobin Wright on their honeymoon, early 20th century architectural and family photographs - including the 1905 scrapbook of photos taken by Wright during his first trip to Japan, and limited and first edition books authored and/or illustrated by Wright, including The House Beautiful (1896), The Japanese Print: An Interpretation (1912) and the 1901 Chicago Architectural Club Catalogue with Wright's handwritten revisions to his essay "The Art and Craft of the Machine."

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