06 Jul the archive of early adler and sullivan building photographer ralph marlow line is now digitized

ralph marlowe line (1904-1989) was an associate professor in the department of architecture at the university of illinois champaign-urbana. his early interest in louis Sullivan (he is only one of two known photogrpahers who documented adler and sullivan buildings in the 1940s and early 1950s) is apparent not only in this collection of 8 x 10 photographs, but also in published work. one example is a reprint of louis sullivan’s the autobiography of an idea (new york: dover publications, inc., 1956), which includes the original text by sullivan, has a new introduction by line, and thirty-five images by line selected especially for the edition. excerpts of his introduction were also printed with photographs from a comprehensive project of documenting the architecture of sullivan that was conducted at the institute of design in chicago under aaron siskind, as published in craft horizons (22: may-june 1962, pp. 18-21). 

ralph marlow line images of adler and sullivan’s halsted flats (1884-1885). i believe line shot the residential units around 1950, but will need to double-check. 
courtesy of ryerson and burnham, art institute of chicago.

seldom seen ralph marlow line images of louis sullivan’s schlesinger and mayer building (1899) taken in the late 1940s. much of line’s work predates the work richard nickel. in fact, i’m finding that most of line’s work on sullivan dates to the 1940s, which fits nicely between morrison in the 30s and nickel in the 50s. 
note the intact terra cotta cornice – removed around 1948. the projecting cast iron cartouches above the prismatic tile window are still intact as well. the ornamental iron was executed by winslow brothers. northwestern executed the terra cotta. 
courtesy of ryerson and burnham, art institute of chicago.

collection of stunning mounted silver gelatin photographic prints of adler and sullivan’s james a. walker & sons warehouse building as it appeared in the summer of 1948.
the dated and signed prints were exhibited (gallery unknown) the same year the images were taken. the photographer was walter allen. 
five years later, and shortly before the building was demolished, aaron siskind and his id students documented the building for the adler and sullivan photo project held between 1953-1956.

i should note that both william g. purcell and ralph marlow line photographed walker in the 1940’s, but their images don’t surface often.

i’ve have never seen the walker (including that single interior shot) in such detail. the exterior signage plastered across the facade offers much-needed insight into the occupants who resided within.

i have so many questions… i hope – when time permits – to learn more about this photographer, the unidentified exhibit, and whether additional images of the walker or other chicago buildings taken by allen exist – especially interiors.

courtesy of ryerson and burnham archive, art institute of chicago.

ralph marlow line images of adler and sullivan’s rothschild building (1881) and hammond library 1884) taken in the early 1950s. much of line’s work pre-dates the work richard nickel. 
courtesy of ryerson and burnham, art institute of chicago.

ralph marlow line 8 x 10 photographic images of adler and sullivan’s schiller building (1892) exterior taken during the early to mid-1950’s. the seldom seen images are really important since they capture the building before and after its terra cotta cornice was removed/demolished by mcguire wrecking company around 1952. 
three years later, the terra cotta rooftop cupola was demolished, which was right around the time richard nickel and fellow id classmates began shooting the garrick. nickel missed the cornice and its removal, but thankfully line caught it.
ralph marlow line was an assoc. professor in dept. of architecture at univ. of ills. and one of few photographers documenting alder and sullivan’s buildings in the 1940s and 50s, including the walker warehouse before it was demolished in 1953.

last week i scanned the photographic collection of ralph marlow line, who was an assoc. professor in dept. of architecture at univ. of ills. and one of few photographers documenting alder and sullivan’s buildings in the 1940s and 50s. the images here, were taken between 1951-53 of adler and sullivan’s walker warehouse (1889). 

what strikes my about line is the little known fact that he orchestrated the careful removal of two hand-carved limestone blocks (there were a total of six with alternating patterns used to support the arches) during demolition of walker in 1953.

institute of design instructor aaron sisknd beautifully captured the ornament “in situ” shortly before its demolition. his images were some of the first taken for the adler and sullivan project that lived on through richard nickel until his untimely death in 1972.

line caught a lot of flak for arranging extraction of the bedford limestone ornament, but thanks to his persistence, the blocks have now been on display at the graham foundation and u of i for all of us to see and appreciate.

interestingly, additional ornament from walker was recently discovered, but nearly impossible to access, siince most of it is submerged in lake michigan.

images courtesy of ryerson and burnham, art institute of chicago.

further reading:

LONG-FORGOTTEN 1948 SILVER GELATIN PRINTS OF ADLER AND SULLIVAN’S WALKER WAREHOUSE (1889) DISCOVERED AND DIGITIZED.

A PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDY OF LIMESTONE ORNAMENT SALVAGED IN 1953 FROM ADLER & SULLIVAN’S WALKER WAREHOUSE