06 Feb rare and historically important collection of photographic images and ephemera used to determine “first skyscraper” joins bld. 51 museum collection
February 6, 2025
in Bldg. 51, Events & Announcements, Featured Posts, Miscellaneous, New Acquisitions, New Products
a large collection of 8 x 10 silver gelatin print photographic images, notes, articles, booklets, etc. chronicling the painstaking effort to systematically document the 1929 deconstruction or demolition of william le baron jenney’s home insurance building (1884) by w.j. newman wrecking company, joined the bldg. 51 museum archive on 19th and early 20th century chicago skyscrapers.
additional materials digitized and added below on 12-1-2025:
the following photographic images were used in a limited edition, saddle-stitched booklet entitled:
The origin of the skyscraper. Report of the Committee Appointed by the Trustees of the Estate of Marshall Field for the Examination of the Structure of the Home Insurance Building.
Committee Appointed by the Trustees of the Estate of Marshall Field for the Examination of the Structure of the Home Insurance Building.; Tallmadge, Thomas Eddy, 1876-1939.
Details:
Title
The origin of the skyscraper. Report of the Committee Appointed by the Trustees of the Estate of Marshall Field for the Examination of the Structure of the Home Insurance Building.
Creator
Committee Appointed by the Trustees of the Estate of Marshall Field for the Examination of the Structure of the Home Insurance Building.
Tallmadge, Thomas Eddy, 1876-
Other title
Architectural record.
Publisher
Chicago, R.F. Seymour, Alderbrink Press
Creation Date
1939
Format
32 p. illus., 2 plans (1 fold) 25 cm.
Source
Bldg. 51 Archive
General Note
“The … report was written in 1931 and published in the Architectural record of August 1934.”–Foreword.
Subject
Skyscrapers
Building, Iron and steel
Tall buildings
Home Insurance Building (Chicago, Ill.)
note: additional materials and inclusion of hand-written captions found on verso of the images will be added when time permits.
