Graycliff Receives Donation of Historic Photograph Collection

The campaign to restore Frank Lloyd Wright's Graycliff Estate recently received good news of a  major contribution.  Mr. Scott Elliott, an authority on Wright's architecture and decorative arts, has donated a photo album of ninety-two original, historic photographs of both Graycliff's construction and the Martin family to the Graycliff Conservancy.  The Conservancy purchased the Graycliff Estate in the Spring of 1999 and is currently directing Phase I restoration of the site.

University at Buffalo Archivist Christopher Densmore stressed that, "Since Wright's buildings did not always follow his original blueprints, the availability of a dated set of construction photographs will immeasurably aid in the accurate understanding and restoration of Graycliff."

Mr. Elliott has had prior connections to Wright's local legacy, having acquired the Frank Lloyd Wright - Darwin D. Martin papers in 1982 and being responsible for their subsequent sale to the UB Archives and Stanford University.  This extensive documentation has been invaluable in the restoration of both Graycliff and the Darwin Martin House.  In addition, these papers have been used to further the studies of Wright scholars and researchers from around the world.

Graycliff Conservancy president Carol Bronnenkant termed Mr. Elliott's donation "a rare and invaluable gift."  UB Archivist Christopher Densmore also noted that, "Photographic documentation is becoming increasing important to our understanding of architecture.  Graycliff is unusual in that we have the photographic documentation literally from ground-breaking to the realized
structure.  These new photographs are a priceless addition in documenting the culmination of Wright's work in Buffalo."

Mr. Elliott's gift comes at a time when thousands of individuals from around the country are preparing to celebrate National Historic Preservation Week, May 14-20,2000.  "Taking America's Past into the Future" is the theme of the weeklong celebration sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Plans for a public viewing of the newly donated historic Graycliff photographs is currently underway by the Graycliff Conservancy.  

The Save America's Treasures program is a public-private partnership between the White House Millennium Council and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Launched by First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton in May 1998, Save America's Treasures is a national effort to protect America's threatened cultural treasures and historic structures.

"The President and I want to thank the many communities across the country that have worked so hard and been so devoted to saving America's treasures.  By preserving the greatness of our past - and protecting what history has given us - we are giving an invaluable gift to future generations," said First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton.  Graycliff was accepted as a sponsored project of Save America's Treasures in March of this year.
 

Graycliff Press Release  May 17, 2000

Back to News Archives

Back to Graycliff Home