Otis Elevator Company Collection, 1903-1906

  • IdentificationPUBLIC "-//The Art Institute of Chicago::Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives//TEXT(US::ICA::1996.4::OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY COLLECTION, 1903-1906//EN)" "ica199604.xml"
  • TitleOtis Elevator Company Collection, 1903-1906
  • PublisherArt Institute of Chicago Archives, Research Center, The Art Institute of Chicago,
  • Language
    • English.
    • English
  • Date1903-1906
  • Physical Description
    • 0.1 linear feet 1 oversize portfolio
    • Ink drawings on linen.
  • RepositoryRyerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago 111 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60603-6110 archives@artic.edu https://www.artic.edu/archival-collections
  • AbstractThis collection contains elevator plans for forty-seven buildings that were prepared by the Chicago office of Otis Elevator Company between 1903 and 1906 for such architectural firms as D.H. Burnham and Co., Holabird and Roche, and Richard Schmidt.
  • OriginationOtis Elevator Company.
  • LocationThe collection is housed in the Art Institute of Chicago Archives’ on-site stacks.

Elisha Graves Otis (1811-1861) formed an elevator company in 1853 that manufactured safety elevators. Through his experiments he developed a safe elevator with an automatic pin device that prevented the platform-lift from falling should the hoisting chains or ropes break. In 1854 Otis demonstrated his invention at the Crystal Palace Exposition in New York, on which the New York Tribune reported, We may commence by referring to an elevator or machine for hoisting goods exhibited by E.G. Otis of Yonkers which attracts attention both by its prominent position and by the apparent daring of the inventor, who as he rides up and down the platform occasionally cuts the rope by which it is supported. Otis installed the first safe elevator with an automatic brake in the Haoghwout Building (John P. Gaynor and William Badger, architects) in New York in March of 1857. Otis's invention and design increased the practicality of constructing tall buildings and played a significant role in the evolution of the skyscraper.

Elevatoring plans for forty-seven buildings, prepared for various architects by the Chicago office of Otis Elevator Company between 1903 and 1906.

The drawings have been organized sequentially by the Otis Company's work number.

  • Names
    • Otis Elevator Company.
    • Otis Elevator Company--Archives.
  • Subject
    • Elevator industry--United States--History--Sources.
    • Elevator industry--Illinois--Chicago--History--Sources.
    • Elevators--United States--History--Sources.
    • Elevators--Illinois--Chicago--History--Sources.

This 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.

Otis Elevator Company Collection, Ryerson and Burnham Art and Architecture Archives, The Art Institute of Chicago.

This collection was a gift of Joyce and Don Wiberg to the Ryerson and Burnham Archives in 1996.

The collection was processed by the Ryerson and Burnham Archives staff in 1996. This finding aid was revised and expanded in 2003 by Annemarie van Roessel.