Frank Lloyd Wright Autobiography

Frank Lloyd Wright Autobiography

Full Name: Mr. Frank Lloyd Wright
Date of Birth: June 8, 1869
Place of Birth: Richland Center, Wisconsin, USA
Died: April 9, 1959
Place of Death: Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Classification: Builders & Titans


Known in the United States, Europe, and even Japan as one of America’s most creative architectural geniuses, Frank Lloyd Wright would redefine American comfort in his affordable renditions of houses, churches, and buildings. His early dream was to explore Chicago and become one of the city’s most admired architects on a grand scale. However, his talent lay in what would become known as the “Prairie Style,” a design that would change the face of residential design across the U.S. and the world.

Young Frank Lincoln (who later changed his name to match that of his mother’s maiden name of Lloyd) was brought up in Iowa, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin and studied engineering. Upon finally realizing his dream of moving to Chicago, Frank Lloyd Wright found work with J.L. Silsbee, followed by Dankmar and Sullivan. By 1889, he had met and married Catherine Tobin. The two would have six children together, but would later suffer a difficult divorce due to Frank’s private life with chosen mistresses.

The movement of Prairie School Architecture was gaining national recognition for building affordable, unique, and nice-looking homes. Using materials usually reserved for commercial buildings, they were able to build spacious homes that were also comfortable and easily heated and vented.

By the early 1900s, Wright was traveling to Japan to provide input on the design of a hotel in Tokyo meant to comfort Western visitors. It would later be called the Imperial Hotel and be unmatched in splendor. His relationship with his first mistress, Mamah Cheney, did cost him some commissioned work. Lloyd Wright took the time to focus upon his own house near Spring Green, Wisconsin, named Taliesin. In Germany, he worked on two famous books that came to be a portfolio of his drawings and photographs of his buildings.

By the 1930s, Frank Lloyd Wright had visited California to build Olive Hill for Aline Barnsdall. The estate now serves as the Municipal Art Gallery in Hollywood. In 1928, Wright married Olgivanna Hinzenberg from Germany and the two fell into a financial rumble until his name was incorporated and he later designed and built the Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Through the Great Depression, Wright lectured at various universities and sold his prints to stay afloat. In 1932, the Autobiography of Frank Lloyd Wright was released, as was Disappearing City, a book discussing the problems of urban life and overdevelopment.

By this time, his fame had grown worldwide and he received commissions to design colleges, universities, homes, museums, and government buildings. One of his most revered works is the Guggenheim Museum and the Marin County complex. His books, an Organic Architectures, American Architectures, and A Testament are all brilliant works from this prolific author, architect, and artist.