SUPPORT THE
WRIGHT LIBRARY
PROCEEDS FROM EVERY SALE GOES TO SUPPORT THE WRIGHT LIBRARY.
CLICK TO ORDER.
WE PROUDLY SUPPORT THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BUILDING CONSERVANCY
WE PROUDLY SUPPORT FALLINGWATER
AND THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY
E. ARTHUR DAVENPORT RESIDENCE, RIVER FOREST, IL (1901 - S.068) DAVENPORT FLOOR PLANS 1901 DAVENPORT ELEVATIONS 1901 DAVENPORT 1905 DAVENPORT 1940 DAVENPORT INTERIOR 1974
DAVENPORT 1978 DAVENPORT 2018 ADDITIONAL WRIGHT STUDIESDate: 1901
Title: 1) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, First Floor Plan 1901 (1901 - S.068).
Description: A variation for the first floor plan of the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The plan is similar to the completed house, with minor variations. The enclosure at the main entrance is not included. The front porch bay was removed and a bay window was added to the living room. Another change is the built-in seating in the dining room.
The house is approaches on the far left side of the property. The front door faces the street, but is enclosed and obscured from the street by a partial wall topped with square balusters. Once inside the enclosure, a stone step leads into the main entry. To the right stairs lead up to the main level. To the immediate left, stairs lead to the second level. Past the stairway is the kitchen. Straight ahead is a partial wall topped with square balusters obscuring the fireplace. To the right is the living room. As you move into the living room, the fireplace is enclosed on two sides with built-in seating and partial wall topped with square balusters, creating an intimate inglenook, a room within a room. To the right of the fireplace is the dining room. There is a built-in sideboard on the interior (North) wall. A door from the dining room leads to the kitchen.
Text lower right: "Dwelling For E. Arthur Davenport. To Be Built on Ashland Avenue At River Forest, Illinois. Frank Lloyd Wright, Webster Tomlinson, Architects. January 1901. First Floor Plan" (FLLW #0101.07). Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
Size: 8 x 10 Color photograph.
S#: 0049.32.1023Date: 1901
Title: 2) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, First Floor Plan 1901 (1901 - S.068).
Description: A variation for the first floor plan of the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The plan is similar to the completed house, with minor variations. The enclosure at the main entrance is not included. The front porch bay was removed and a bay window was added to the living room. Another change is the built-in seating in the dining room.
The house is approaches on the far left side of the property. The front door faces the street, but is enclosed and obscured from the street by a partial wall topped with square balusters. Once inside the enclosure, a stone step leads into the main entry. To the right stairs lead up to the main level. To the immediate left, stairs lead to the second level. Past the stairway is the kitchen. Straight ahead is a partial wall topped with square balusters obscuring the fireplace. To the right is the living room. As you move into the living room, the fireplace is enclosed on two sides with built-in seating and partial wall topped with square balusters, creating an intimate inglenook, a room within a room. To the right of the fireplace is the dining room. There is a built-in sideboard on the interior (North) wall. A door from the dining room leads to the kitchen.
Text lower right: "Dwelling For E. Arthur Davenport. To Be Built on Ashland Avenue At River Forest, Illinois. Frank Lloyd Wright, Webster Tomlinson, Architects. January 1901. First Floor Plan" (FLLW #0101.07). Courtesy of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Converted from a blueprint to a line drawing by Douglas M. Steiner. See Additional Details...
Size: 8 x 10 Color photograph.
S#: 0049.33.1023Date: 1901
Title: 3) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Second Floor Plan 1901 (1901 - S.068).
Description: Second floor planfor the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The main stairway leads to the second level which includes three bedrooms, a study and one bathroom. The study is open to the stairway, partially enclosed with square balusters and topped with a railing. Second floor plan for the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. Text: "Second Floor Plan" Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago. See Additional Details...
Size: 8 x 10 Color photograph.
S#: 0049.34.1023Date: 1901
Title: 4) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Front (West) Elevation 1901 (1901 - S.068).
Description: A variation of the Front Elevation for the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The entrance is on the left, living room in the center and the dining room is on the right. The plan is similar to the completed house, with minor variations. The enclosure at the main entrance is not included. The hip roof which runs from the peak past the front of the house is missing. The half wall on the far right side does appear to have been built and is visible in the photograph from circa 1905. The house is approaches on the far left side of the property. The front door faces the street, but is enclosed and obscured from the street by a partial wall topped with square balusters. Once inside the enclosure, a stone step leads into the main entry. Text lower right: "Dwelling For E. Arthur Davenport. To Be Built on Ashland Avenue At River Forest, Illinois. Frank Lloyd Wright, Webster Tomlinson, Architects. January 1901. Front Elevation" (FLLW #0101.07). Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago. See Additional Details...
Size: 10 x 8 Color photograph.
S#: 0049.35.1023Date: 1901
Title: 5) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, South Elevation 1901 (1901 - S.068).
Description: A variation of the South Elevation for the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The front porch is on the left, the living room is on the left side of the house, dining room in the center, and kitchen on the right. The plan is similar to the completed house, with minor variations. The hip roof which runs from the peak past the front of the house is missing. This drawing also shows a roof over the front porch on the left. The porch existed, but it was not covered. The plans and South elevation show a section of the dining room facade projecting outward but it appears not to have been built. The windows also changed. Text: "South Elevation". Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago. See Additional Details...
Size: 10 x 8 Color photograph.
S#: 0049.36.1023Date: 1901
Title: 6) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Rear Elevation 1901 (1901 - S.068).
Description: A variation of the Rear Elevation for the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The dining room is on the left, the kitchen in the center, and the refrigerator room on the right. The plan is similar to the completed house, with minor variations. Text: "Rear Elevation". Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago. See Additional Details...
Size: 10 x 8 Color photograph.
S#: 0049.37.1023Date: 1901
Title: 7) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, North Elevation 1901 (1901 - S.068).
Description: A variation of the North Elevation for the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The kitchen is on the left, the side door and stairwell in the center, and the living room is on the right side of the house, the front porch on the far right. This drawing shows a roof over the front porch on the right. The porch existed, but it was not covered. The plan is similar to the completed house, with minor variations. The hip roof which runs from the peak past the front of the house is missing. Text: "North Elevation". Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago. See Additional Details...
Size: 10 x 8 Color photograph.
S#: 0049.38.1023Date: 1905
Title: E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Circa 1905 (1901 - S.068).
Description: View of the Davenport Residence from the street. A young boy pulling a wagon has paused to look up at the house. This photograph is widely regarded as the earliest photograph of the Davenport, after completion of construction. Judging the size of the bushes in front of the house, that were mostlikely planted after completion of the house, this photograph was most likely taken around 1905. The lower portion of the exterior of the house is board and batten construction, the upper, lighter portion with cream colored plaster. As originally designed in A Small House With Lots of Room In It (1901) the Bradley (1900) and Davenport houses, the projecting hip roof which runs from the peak past the front of the house, is a prominent feature of the house. The roof has broad overhangs.
The house is approaches on the far left side of the property. It runs past the porch and living room. During the 1931 renovation, the front porch was removed, the living room's bay window facing the street was replaced with a rectangular addition, and the roof which ran from the peak past the front of the house was altered dramatically. The front door faces the street, but is enclosed and obscured from the street by a partial wall topped with square balusters. Once inside the enclosure, a stone step leads into the main entry. The half wall on the far left side is visible and includes a gate. The half wall also appears on the far right side and is visible in this photograph. Courtesy of Jeannette Fields. See Additional Details...
Size: 10 x 7.25 B&W photograph.
S#: 0058.51.1023Date: Circa 1940
Title: E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Circa 1940 (1901 - S.068).
Description: View of the Davenport Residence from the street. The lower portion of the exterior of the house is board and batten construction, the upper, lighter portion with cream colored plaster.As originally designed in A Small House With Lots of Room In It (1901) the Bradley (1900) and Davenport houses, the projecting hip roof which runs from the peak past the front of the house, is a prominent feature of the house. During the 1931 renovation, the front porch was removed, the living room's bay window facing the street was replaced with a rectangular addition, and the roof which ran from the peak past the front of the house was altered dramatically. The front door on the far left faces the street, but is enclosed and obscured from the street by a partial wall topped with square balusters. Once inside the enclosure, a stone step leads into the main entry. Text lower left: "67485." Photographed by Gilman Lane. Courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago. See Additional Details...
Size: 10 x 8 B&W photograph.
S#: 0531.110.1023Date: 1974
Title: 1) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Entrance Hall Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068).
Description: View of the Davenport entrance hall from the front door. Stairs lead up to the main level. The stairs on the left lead to the second level. Square balusters enclose the stairs. A coat closet is on the right. Photographed by Yukio Futagawa. Published in Global Interior #9, 1975, p.52. Courtesy of A.D.A. Edita, Tokyo. See Additional Details...
Size: 8 x 10 B&W photograph.
S#: 1963.50.1023Date: 1974
Title: 2) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Living Room Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068).
Description: View of the living room from the Northeast. This is the view of the living room from the stairs. Originally the three vertical windows formed a bay, but were changed during the 1931 remodel. Published in Restored America, Stlanforth, 1975, p.141. Photographed by Louis Reens. Courtesy of Praeger Publishers, New York. Copy 10 x 8 B&W photograph. See Additional Details...
Size: 8 x 10 B&W photograph.
S#: 1963.53.1023Date: 1974
Title: 3) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Living Room Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068).
Description: View of the living room fireplace withing an inglenook. The fireplace is enclosed on two sides with built-in seating and a partial wall topped with square balusters, creating an intimate inglenook, a room within a room. A prominent feature of the fireplace is a pair of Wright designed cast iron spherical andirons. The earliest example is the Winslow Residence 1894 (S.024). The Winslow andirons appeared to be spheres only and lacked any supporting brackets. A Small House With Lots of Room In It (1901) the Bradley (1900) and Davenport house andirons include side brackets. A variation of the spherical andirons appeared in the Hotel Geneva (1911). To the left of the inglenook stairs lead down to the front door and up to the second level. To the right of the fireplace is the dining room. Photographed by Yukio Futagawa. Published in Global Interior #9, 1975, p.54. Courtesy of A.D.A. Edita, Tokyo. See Additional Details...
Size: 10 x 8 B&W photograph.
S#: 1963.51.1023Date: 1974
Title: 4) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Dining Room Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068).
Description: View of the built-in dining room sideboard. The living room inglenook with square balusters is on the left. The sideboard is on the right. Photographed by Yukio Futagawa. Published in Global Interior #9, 1975, p.55. Courtesy of A.D.A. Edita, Tokyo. See Additional Details...
Size: 8 x 9 B&W photograph.
S#: 1963.52.1023Date: 1975 Title: Restored America (Hard Cover - DJ)
Author: Stanforth, Deirdre
Description: Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Ill. Original HC List Price $25.00. (First Edition)
Size:
Pages: 138-41
S#: 1971.03.0102
Date: 1978 Title: E. Arthur Davenport Residence (1901 - S.068), River Forest, Illinois
Description: Caption on Face: "Wright/Goldberger. NYT Pictures/Yuichi Idaka. Oak Park, Ill.: The Davenport House is an excellent example of a small Wright home. NYT07287809. (Fourth of Six)". Stamped on verso "Nov 30 1978." Photographed by Yuichi Idaka for the New York Times. By 1970 "...it had fallen into sorry condition through neglect. The garage was near collapse, the house gutters and downspouts were full of holes, which caused damage to the cedar board-and-batten exterior; glass was broken in some of the windows, and the seventy-year build-up of paint and wallpaper was beginning to part company with the walls." Restored America, 1975, p138-141. See Additional Details...
Size: Original 10 x 8 B&W print
ST#: 1978.32.0610
Date: 1978 Title: E. Arthur Davenport Residence (1901 - S.068), River Forest, Illinois.
Description: Caption on Face: " Oak Park, Ill.: The Davenport House is an excellent example of a small Wright home. (Fourth of Six) Wright/Goldberger. NYT Pictures/Yuichi Idaka". Published in the New York Times on August 27, 1978, accompanying a story about Wright by Paul Goldberger. Caption pasted to verso and stamped Aug 27 1978: "The Davenport House is an excellent example of a small Wright home." Article pasted to verso (Excerpt): "Oak Park, Ill. - The moment a workman comes in here, he takes one look around and says, 'Oh, this house is one of his, isn'T it?' Then he groans and lets you know how much more work it' going to mean for him," said Jeannette Fields, sitting in the living room of her 77-year-old house. Mrs. Fields did not have to say who 'he' is - her house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, who lived in Oak park from 1889 until 1909. In that period and the years just following, Wright designed or altered almost 30 houses here and in neighboring River Forest, where the Field' house was built originally for Arthur Davenport in 1901... Several Wright houses have sold recently for about $170,000, about 20 to 25 percent more than other homes in the neighborhood..." Photographed by Yuichi Idaka for the New York Times. See Additional Details...
Size: Original 10 x 8 B&W photograph.
ST#: 1978.35.0111
Date: Circa 1980
Title: E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Circa 1980 (Not Dated) (1901 S.068).
Description: View of the front elevation. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1901. Text on sleeve: “Mod: Arch: Am: Wright, FL: Res: River Forest, IL: E. Arthur Davenport Residence: Ext West. View: 1901. Radford 92US, 746/96. 073350. Hoily Cross.” Acquired from the archives of The College of Holy Cross.
Size: Original 35mm Color slide, sandwiched between glass, plastic mount.
ST#: 1980.72.1223Date: 2018
Title: E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068).
Description: Set of 50 exterior photographs of the Davenport Residence. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright January 1901 (FLLW#0101). In the July 1901 issue of Ladies Home Journal, Wright designed A Small House With Lots of Room In It. When you compare it to the Davenport design and floor plan, although larger, there are striking similarities. In 1931 the house was renovated. Three not so shuttle changes were made to the house. The trim around the upper front windows, altering the roof line dramatically and removal of the front porch. The lower half to two-thirds of the exterior of the house is board and batten construction, the upper, lighter portion with cream colored plaster... Continue...
Size: Original 23 X 15 high res digital images.
ST#: 2018.52.1023 (1-50)
See Additional Photographs...
See Additional Photographs...DAVENPORT FLOOR PLANS (1901)
E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, First Floor Plan 1901 (1901 - S.068). A variation for the first floor plan of the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The plan is similar to the completed house, with minor variations. The enclosure at the main entrance is not included. The front porch bay was removed and a bay window was added to the living room. Another change is the built-in seating in the dining room.
The house is approaches on the far left side of the property. The front door faces the street, but is enclosed and obscured from the street by a partial wall topped with square balusters. Once inside the enclosure, a stone step leads into the main entry. To the right stairs lead up to the main level. To the immediate left, stairs lead to the second level. Past the stairway is the kitchen. Straight ahead is a partial wall topped with square balusters obscuring the fireplace. To the right is the living room. As you move into the living room, the fireplace is enclosed on two sides with built-in seating and partial wall topped with square balusters, creating an intimate inglenook, a room within a room. To the right of the fireplace is the dining room. There is a built-in sideboard on the interior (North) wall. A door from the dining room leads to the kitchen.
Text lower right: "Dwelling For E. Arthur Davenport. To Be Built on Ashland Avenue At River Forest, Illinois. Frank Lloyd Wright, Webster Tomlinson, Architects. January 1901. First Floor Plan" (FLLW #0101.07). (S#0049.33.1023)
E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Second Floor Plan 1901 (1901 - S.068).
Second floor planfor the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The main stairway leads to the second level which includes three bedrooms, a study and one bathroom. The study is open to the stairway, partially enclosed with square balusters and topped with a railing. Second floor plan for the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. Text: "Second Floor Plan" (S#0049.34.1023)DAVENPORT ELEVATIONS (1901)
Front: E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Front (West) Elevation 1901 (1901 - S.068). A variation of the Front Elevation for the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The entrance is on the left, living room in the center and the dining room is on the right. The plan is similar to the completed house, with minor variations. The enclosure at the main entrance is not included. The hip roof which runs from the peak past the front of the house is missing. The half wall on the far right side does appear to have been built and is visible in the photograph from circa 1905. The house is approaches on the far left side of the property. The front door faces the street, but is enclosed and obscured from the street by a partial wall topped with square balusters. Once inside the enclosure, a stone step leads into the main entry. Text lower right: "Dwelling For E. Arthur Davenport. To Be Built on Ashland Avenue At River Forest, Illinois. Frank Lloyd Wright, Webster Tomlinson, Architects. January 1901. Front Elevation". (FLLW #0101.07). (S#0049.35.1023) . South: E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, South Elevation 1901 (1901 - S.068). A variation of the South Elevation for the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The front porch is on the left, the living room is on the left side of the house, dining room in the center, and kitchen on the right. The plan is similar to the completed house, with minor variations. The hip roof which runs from the peak past the front of the house is missing. This drawing also shows a roof over the front porch on the left. The porch existed, but it was not covered. The plans and South elevation show a section of the dining room facade projecting outward but it appears not to have been built. The windows also changed. Text: "South Elevation". (S#0049.36.1023) . Rear: E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Rear Elevation 1901 (1901 - S.068). A variation of the Rear Elevation for the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The dining room is on the left, the kitchen in the center, and the refrigerator room on the right. The plan is similar to the completed house, with minor variations. Text: "Rear Elevation". (S#0049.37.1023) . North: E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, North Elevation 1901 (1901 - S.068). A variation of the North Elevation for the E. Arthur Davenport Residence. The kitchen is on the left, the side door and stairwell in the center, and the living room is on the right side of the house, the front porch on the far right. This drawing shows a roof over the front porch on the right. The porch existed, but it was not covered. The plan is similar to the completed house, with minor variations. The hip roof which runs from the peak past the front of the house is missing. Text: "North Elevation". (S#0049.38.1023) E. ARTHUR DAVENPORT CIRCA 1905
E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Circa 1905 (1901 - S.068). View of the Davenport Residence from the street. A young boy pulling a wagon has paused to look up at the house. This photograph is widely regarded as the earliest photograph of the Davenport, after completion of construction. Judging the size of the bushes in front of the house, that were mostlikely planted after completion of the house, this photograph was most likely taken around 1905. The lower portion of the exterior of the house is board and batten construction, the upper, lighter portion with cream colored plaster. As originally designed in A Small House With Lots of Room In It (1901) the Bradley (1900) and Davenport houses, the projecting hip roof which runs from the peak past the front of the house, is a prominent feature of the house. The roof has broad overhangs.
The house is approaches on the far left side of the property. It runs past the porch and living room. During the 1931 renovation, the front porch was removed, the living room's bay window facing the street was replaced with a rectangular addition, and the roof which ran from the peak past the front of the house was altered dramatically. The front door faces the street, but is enclosed and obscured from the street by a partial wall topped with square balusters. Once inside the enclosure, a stone step leads into the main entry. The half wall on the far left side is visible and includes a gate. The half wall also appears on the far right side and is visible in this photograph. (S#0058.51.1023)E. ARTHUR DAVENPORT CIRCA 1940
1) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Circa 1940 (1901 - S.068). View of the Davenport Residence from the street. The lower portion of the exterior of the house is board and batten construction, the upper, lighter portion with cream colored plaster. As originally designed in A Small House With Lots of Room In It (1901) the Bradley (1900) and Davenport houses, the projecting hip roof which runs from the peak past the front of the house, is a prominent feature of the house. During the 1931 renovation, the front porch was removed, the living room's bay window facing the street was replaced with a rectangular addition, and the roof which ran from the peak past the front of the house was altered dramatically. The front door on the far left faces the street, but is enclosed and obscured from the street by a partial wall topped with square balusters. Once inside the enclosure, a stone step leads into the main entry. Text lower left: "67485." Photographed by Gilman Lane. (S#0531.110.1023) 1B) Detail of the E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Circa 1940 (1901 - S.068). E. ARTHUR DAVENPORT INTERIOR 1974
1) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Entrance Hall Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068). View of the Davenport entrance hall from the front door. Stairs lead up to the main level. The stairs on the left lead to the second level. Square balusters enclose the stairs. A coat closet is on the right. Photographed by Yukio Futagawa. Published in Global Interior #9, 1975, p.52. (S#1963.50.1023) 1B) Detail of the E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Entrance Hall Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068). , 2) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Living Room Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068). View of the living room from the Northeast. This is the view of the living room from the stairs. Originally the three vertical windows formed a bay, but were changed during the 1931 remodel. Published in Restored America, Stlanforth, 1975, p.141. Photographed by Louis Reens. (S#1963.53.1023 ) 2B) Detail of the E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Living Room Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068). , 
3) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Living Room Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068). View of the living room fireplace withing an inglenook. The fireplace is enclosed on two sides with built-in seating and a partial wall topped with square balusters, creating an intimate inglenook, a room within a room. A prominent feature of the fireplace is a pair of Wright designed cast iron spherical andirons. The earliest example is the Winslow Residence 1894 (S.024). The Winslow andirons appeared to be spheres only and lacked any supporting brackets. A Small House With Lots of Room In It (1901) the Bradley (1900) and Davenport house andirons include side brackets. A variation of the spherical andirons appeared in the Hotel Geneva (1911). To the left of the inglenook stairs lead down to the front door and up to the second level. To the right of the fireplace is the dining room. Photographed by Yukio Futagawa. Published in Global Interior #9, 1975, p.54. (S#1963.51.1023) 
3B) Detail of the E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Living Room Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068). 33C) Detail of the E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Living Room Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068). , 
4) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, Dining Room Circa 1974 (1901 - S.068). View of the built-in dining room sideboard. The living room inglenook with square balusters is on the left. The sideboard is on the right. Photographed by Yukio Futagawa. Published in Global Interior #9, 1975, p.55. (S#1963.52.1023) E. ARTHUR DAVENPORT 1978
1) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, 1978 (1901 - S.068), River Forest, Illinois. Caption on Face: " Oak Park, Ill.: The Davenport House is an excellent example of a small Wright home. (Fourth of Six) Wright/Goldberger. NYT Pictures/Yuichi Idaka". Published in the New York Times on August 27, 1978, accompanying a story about Wright by Paul Goldberger. Caption pasted to verso and stamped Aug 27 1978: "The Davenport House is an excellent example of a small Wright home." Article pasted to verso (Excerpt): "Oak Park, Ill. - The moment a workman comes in here, he takes one look around and says, 'Oh, this house is one of his, isn'T it?' Then he groans and lets you know how much more work it' going to mean for him," said Jeannette Fields, sitting in the living room of her 77-year-old house. Mrs. Fields did not have to say who 'he' is - her house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, who lived in Oak park from 1889 until 1909. In that period and the years just following, Wright designed or altered almost 30 houses here and in neighboring River Forest, where the Field' house was built originally for Arthur Davenport in 1901... Several Wright houses have sold recently for about $170,000, about 20 to 25 percent more than other homes in the neighborhood..." Photographed by Yuichi Idaka for the New York Times. (ST#1978.35.0111)
1B) Detail of the E. Arthur Davenport Residence 1978 (1901 - S.068), River Forest, Illinois. E. ARTHUR DAVENPORT 2018
E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). Set of 50 exterior photographs of the Davenport Residence. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright January 1901 (FLLW#0101). In the July 1901 issue of Ladies Home Journal, Wright designed A Small House With Lots of Room In It. When you compare it to the Davenport design and floor plan, although larger, there are striking similarities. In 1931 the house was renovated. Three not so shuttle changes were made to the house. The trim around the upper front windows, altering the roof line dramatically and removal of the front porch.
The lower half to two-thirds of the exterior of the house is board and batten construction, the upper, lighter portion with cream colored plaster. As originally designed in the Small House With Lots of Room (1901) the Bradley (1900) and Davenport houses, the projecting hip roof which runs from the peak past the front of the house is a prominent feature of the house. The roof has broad overhangs.
The house is approaches on the far left side of the property. It originally ran past the porch and living room. During the 1931 renovation, the front porch was removed, the living room's bay window facing the street was replaced with a rectangular addition, and the roof which ran from the peak past the front of the house was altered dramatically. The front door faces the street, but is enclosed and obscured from the street by a partial wall topped with square balusters. Once inside the enclosure, a stone step leads into the main entry. To the right stairs lead up to the main level.
To the immediate left, stairs lead to the second level. Past the stairway is the kitchen. Straight ahead is a partial wall topped with square balusters obscuring the fireplace. To the right is the living room. As you move into the living room, the fireplace is enclosed on two sides with built-in seating and partial wall topped with square balusters, creating an intimate inglenook, a room within a room. A prominent feature of the fireplace were the pair of Wright designed cast iron spherical andirons. The earliest example is the Winslow Residence 1894 (S.024). The Winslow andirons appeared to be spheres only and lacked any supporting brackets. A Small House With Lots of Room In It (1901) the Bradley (1900) and Davenport house andirons include side brackets. A variation of the spherical andirons appeared in the Hotel Geneva (1911).
To the right of the fireplace is the dining room. There is abuilt-in sideboard on the interior (North) wall. A door from the dining room leads to the kitchen. The main stairway leads to the second level which includes three bedrooms, a study and one bathroom. The study is open to the stairway, partially enclosed with square balusters and topped with a railing.
Davenport was employed with the Pullman Company for decades, but did not live in Pullman, a community on the South side of Chicago, developed for Pullman employees. Stephen A. Foster, a client of Wright's was instrumental in developing West Pullman (1900 - S.049), immediately to the Southwest, and developed for those that were looking to escape the grip of the company town of Pullman.
"E. Arthur Davenport, who was with the Pullman Company in Chicago for 52 years, retiring from the position of assistant passenger agent and moving to Los Angeles, Cal., in 1936, was a resident of River Forest for thirty-five years. During that time he served as a village trustee for four years; served on the library board eleven years, four of them as president; was first supervisor of River Forest township; was treasurer of the Family Welfare association; president of First Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the first Playground and Recreation board; was president of the Neighborhood club, and of the Belles Letteres society. He erected a home at 559 Ashland Avenue when he came here in 1901, and occupied it until 1936, when he sold it. He served on the executive committee of River Forest Centennial, Inc., in 1936." River Forest, A Suburb of Chicago, Hall, 1937, p.73.
In 1975, Jeannette Fields, owner of the Davenport House at the time, described the living room as dramatic -- a spiritual, emotional experience. "He left nothing to chance; the way the light comes in, the way you look from one space into another." She concedes that Wright's strong personality dominates and dictates lifestyle and furnishings and it forced her to get rid of most of her old furniture. Restored America, Stanforth, 1975, p.139.
Set of 50 exterior photographs of the Davenport Residence photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Our intent is to record the details that create the totality of the design, creating a complete picture, as-well-as the present condition of the home. In an effort to expedite adding these photographs to this website, we have dispensed with a description for each photograph. Original 23 X 15 high res digital images.
1) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-1) 2) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-2) 3) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-3) 4) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-4) 5) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-5) 6) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-6) 7) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-7) 8) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-8) 9) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-9) 10) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-10) 11) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-11) 12) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-12) 13) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-13) 14) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-14) 15) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-15) 16) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-16) 17) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-17) 18) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-18) 19) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-19) 20) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-20) 21) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-21) 22) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-2) 23) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-23) 24) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-24) 25) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-25) 26) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-26) 27) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-27) 28) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-28) 29) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-29) 30) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-30) 31) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-31) 32) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-32) 33) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-33) 34) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-34) 35) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-35) 36) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-36) 37) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-37) 38) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-38) 39) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-39) 
40) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-40) 
41) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-41) 
42) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-42) 
43) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-43) 
44) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-44) 45) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-45) 
46) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-46) 
47) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-47) 
48) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-48) 
49) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-49) 
50) E. Arthur Davenport Residence, River Forest, Illinois, 2018 (1901 - S.068). 23 x 15 high res digital image photographed by Douglas M. Steiner on October 7, 2018. Copyright 2023, Douglas M. Steiner. (ST#2018.52.1023-50)
Additional Wright Studies SEE ADDITIONAL WRIGHT STUDIES Frank Lloyd Wright's First Published Article (1898) Photographic Chronology of Frank Lloyd Wright Portraits "Frank Lloyd Wright's Nakoma Clubhouse & Sculptures."
A comprehensive study of Frank Lloyd Wright's Nakoma Clubhouse
and the Nakoma and Nakomis Sculptures. Now Available.
Limited Edition. More information.Text copyright Douglas M. Steiner, Copyright 2014, 2023.
