17 Dec louis sullivan-designed fragments from auditorium building and victoria hotel added to bldg. 51 museum collection
two richly ornamented and historically important architectural fragments from adler and sullivan buildings are the latest additions to the rapidly-expanding bldg. 51 archive and museum. the first piece, executed by james legge and cast in plaster, was salvaged from the 10th floor hotel dining room (now roosevelt university’s library) in adler and sullivan’s extant auditorium building, completed in 1889. the second fragment, comprised of staff (i.e, gypsum, cement, and fibrous material such as hemp) was salvaged in 1961 during the demolition of adler and sullivan’s victoria hotel. the ornament was modeled by kristian schneider, who worked for legge on the auditorium’s interior plaster ornament.
the collection of images accompanying the auditorium fragment where taken at various points in time, beginning when it was under construction, converted into a library, and later restored to its original state by john vinci. the images were taken by james taylor, ralph marlow line, harold allen, and john vinci. the ornament was removed during the room’s restoration in 1979.
the following images were taken in early 1961 of adler & sullivan’s victoria hotel (1892-93) before it was destroyed by fire (only days before its scheduled demolition). the exterior ornament was designed by sullivan and his chief draftsman, frank lloyd wright, who left the firm shortly before the hotel was completed.
sections of the richly foliated exterior staff (e.g., column capital segments and frieze panels) were saved by nickel and charlie gregerson. the three-story hotel was located on the northwest corner of illinois and halsted streets, chicago heights, ills.
images courtesy of the richard nickel archive, ryerson and burnham archives, art institute of chicago, bld. 51 archive, and john vinci collection.
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