Dankmar Adler (1844-1900) Collection, 1844-2017

Dankmar Adler was born in Stadtlengsfeld, Thüringen, Germany, in 1844. In 1854, he immigrated to the United States with his father and settled in Detroit. After finishing his education in local public schools, failing the University of Michigan entrance exam, and demonstrating he was ill-suited for mercantile pursuits, Adler became an apprentice to John Schaefer, a Detroit architect. From Schaefer he learned the basics in architectural ornamentation and the origin and history of architectural styles. Adler continued his architectural study with E. Willard Smith, who gave him a systematic introduction to the history of architecture and the philosophy of architectural design and laid the foundation of Adler's professional knowledge.

Adler arrived in Chicago in 1861, eventually employed by Augustus Bauer. His time with Bauer was short, due to Adler's enlistment in the Illinois Light Artillery. During his service he studied science and history as time allowed and gained more professional experience while working as a draftsman for the Topographical Engineers' Office of the Military Division of Tennessee. After his discharge in August 1865, Adler returned to Bauer's office briefly before moving to the service of architect O. S. Kinney, in whose office he soon became foreman. Finally, in January 1871, Adler ventured out on his own to form a partnership with Edward Burling, with whom he worked on rebuilding Chicago after the fire. The partnership with Burling ended in 1879 and soon thereafter Adler's business connection with Louis Sullivan began. Adler and Sullivan dissolved their partnership in 1895, having designed over 100 buildings and made significant contributions to work on steel-frame construction and the skyscraper. In addition to running a prolific practice, Adler was involved in architectural organizations and wrote on architecture. He died in Chicago April 16, 1900.

This collection contains letters and papers, including a seven-page autobiography and microfilm of a notebook written by Adler as a boy, and photographs. Additionally, there are research materials (books, articles, etc.) written about Adler.

SERIES I: CORRESPONDENCE. Arranged chronologically.

SERIES II: WRITINGS. Divided into two subcategories, A. WRITINGS BY ADLER and B. WRITINGS ABOUT ADLER. Arranged alphabetically by title. Part of this series is restricted.

SERIES III: PHOTOGRAPHS. Arranged chronologically.

SERIES IV: PROJECT PAPERS. Arranged alphabetically by project title.

SERIES V: MISCELLANEOUS. Arranged chronologically..

• Names
  • Adler, Dankmar, 1844-1900.
  • Adler, Dankmar, 1844-1900--Archives.
  • Adler and Sullivan.
• Subject
  • Chicago Auditorium Building (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Architecture--Illinois--Chicago--19th century--Sources.
  • Architecture--Illinois--Chicago--20th century--Sources.
  • Architects--Illinois--Chicago--Archives.

ALS

BOX.FF

c.

n.d.

Dankmar Adler Papers, 1857-1984 (Newberry Library).

Dankmar Adler Papers (American Jewish Archives).

Dankmar Adler Papers, 1857-1984 (Newberry Library).

Dankmar Adler Papers (American Jewish Archives).

Dankmar Adler Papers, 1857-1984 (Newberry Library).

Dankmar Adler Papers (American Jewish Archives).

Portions of this collection are restricted from patron access, as noted in the series inventories; please consult the Archivist for additional information. The remainder of the collection may be accessed by users in the Reading Room of the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries at The Art Institute of Chicago. Collections maintained on-site are available for patron use without prior arrangement or appointment. Collections maintained in off-site storage will be retrieved with advance notification; please consult the Archivist for the current retrieval schedule. For further information, consult https://www.artic.edu/archival-collections/contact-usage-and-faq.

The Art Institute of Chicago is providing access to the materials in the Archives' collections solely for noncommercial educational and research purposes. The unauthorized use, including, but not limited to, publication of the materials without the prior written permission of the Art Institute is strictly prohibited. All inquiries regarding permission to publish should be submitted in writing to the Director, Art Institute of Chicago Archives. In addition to permission from the Art Institute, permission of the copyright owner (if not the Art Institute) and/or any holder of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) may also be required for reproduction, publication, distribution, and other uses. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of any item and securing any necessary permissions rests with the persons desiring to publish the item. The Art Institute makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the materials or their fitness for a particular purpose.

Dankmar Adler Collection, Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago.

Mrs. Julius E. Weil, daughter of Dankmar Adler, donated the main part of the Dankmar Adler Collection to the Burnham Library of Architecture in February 1952. Additional photographs were donated by Mrs. Irving D. (Joan Weil) Saltzstein, probably during the 1970s. The remaining materials are gifts of other donors, as indicated in each series inventory. Unless otherwise noted, items in this collection are from the original Weil gift.

The collection was processed by Natasha Derrickson of the Ryerson and Burnham Archives in 2000. This finding aid was revised and expanded by Annemarie van Roessel in 2002 and 2004, Nathaniel Parks in 2017, and Jorie Braunold in 2019.

This collection was transferred to the Ryerson and Burnham Archives from the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries in October 2000.