Monthly Update
New Year, New Developments At OA+D
January saw an important step in OA+D's efforts to consolidate all of the various archival storage sites across the country and bring them to Chandler, Arizona — in a new location located just north of our Archival Research and Study Center.
We've established a new and larger environmentally-controlled and secure storage site and have begun the process of setting up racks, moving-in flat files, and the arduous task of traversing literal tons of files, drawings, models, objects, and more.
This new site will allow us to have an easier time working on organizing and processing the various archival collections under our care. It will also let us house all of this material in a more cost-efficient manner.
Bigger, closer, and more economical — A win all the way around!
This is all only possible because of the ongoing support of generous donors and supporters of OA+D. But we need more continued financial support to keep the momentum going!
We'll be sharing more info and images of our new working storage site in the coming weeks and asking for your help continue all of this exciting and important effort. If you'd like to help the cause today, please make a tax-deductible donation HERE.
In other news, work on our next exciting publication of 2025 has also been happening at a feverish pace. A beautifully illustrated hardcover monograph on the life and architectural work of Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice and beloved Taliesin Fellow, David Elgin Dodge, is set to publish this spring and will feature a biographical essay and never-before-published drawings and photos of David's select works. As we get closer to its release, we will keep everyone updated on the progress and provide pre-order information when available.
OA+D NEWS & EVENTS
From The Archives
This month we feature a brand new acquisition to the OA+D Archives: A rare demitasse cup and saucer made by the Larkin Soap Company, Buffalo, NY. Cup measures 2-3/8 inches tall, saucer is 4-1/2 inches in diameter. The Buffalo China "Rouge Lamelle" mark was used in the 1930s.
Founded in 1901, Larkin's "Buffalo Pottery" division produced this tableware—pink plates emblazoned with the Larkin logo—used by the restaurant situated inside the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Larkin Administration Building. The pottery-works themselves were housed in the Larkin Pottery Building, noted for being the world’s largest fireproofed pottery plant and the first to be operated completely by electricity.
While the building was demolished in 1950, Buffalo Pottery remained in business under the name Buffalo China, Inc. until 1983. Buffalo Pottery items are now highly sought-after collectibles.
If you have archival materials related to Frank Lloyd Wright, the Taliesin Fellowship, or any other organic architectural or design items that you're interested in donating for our growing collections, please let us know by contacting us at info@oadarchives.org.
The Elation of Creation: The Architecture of Dan Duckham Now Available
OA+D's newest publication, The Elation of Creation: The Architecture of Dan Duckham has been published and is now available for regular purchase!
Since 1959 architect Dan Duckham has quietly but deliberately created a significant oeuvre of natural organic architecture that is appropriate to its time and place while fulfilling its purpose. The majority of his work was created for clients in the tropical region of the Fort Lauderdale / Broward County area of South Florida. Later in his career, after moving to the mountains of western North Carolina, his work continued to evolve while retaining its overriding consistency of originality, clarity, craft, and quality. This architectural monograph presents the creative life work of Dan Duckham, which spans more than 65 years during which he designed over 500 projects.
Hardcover with Dustjacket :: 296 pages :: 11" x 8.5" :: $60.00
By Randolph C. Henning. Foreword by Robert McCarter. With contributions by Dan Duckham, Donald Singer, and Anthony Abbate.
Those who pre-ordered will receive their copies first—but you can order yours HERE.
Keep in mind that this is a special publication and is not included as part of the Journal OA+D subscription. It must be purchased separately.