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Mel R. and
Carole Blumberg Residence, Clinton, Iowa (1955 Project) |
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Introduction Original
Drawing Floor Plan
Correspondence Grant Wood and
Mel Blumberg Usonian Automatic Homes
(Built)
Usonian Automatic Traveling
Exhibit
Related Books
Additional Wright Studies
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- Blumberg Correspondence - 3 letters,
Contract, 6 photos
- Correspondence for project never
completed. Includes 3 letters dated May 2, Sept 20 and Oct 4, 955. The 3rd
signed by Wright. Also includes a contract dated September 20 and six
photos of the plans and drawings. The conclusion is that negotiations fell
apart, as Mr. Wright says "I guess I am to blame".
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Date: 1955
Title:
Blumberg Correspondence: Letter dated May 2nd, 1955.
Description: In response to Mel Blumberg,
inviting him to Spring Green. Signed by Eugene Masselink. On
Taliesin Letterhead, includes envelope with Phoenix Postmark. "Mr. Mel Blumberg, Clinton Tobacco, Candy and Supply Company,
59 Main Avenue, Clinton, Iowa. Dear Mr. Blumberg: You are right (although
the word "overtaxed" has a more than normally unpleasant ring) we are en
route Wisconsin and Mr. Wright will be there after May 15th. You
are welcome to come to see him if a mutually convenient time can be
arranged. You could telephone us there at Spring Green 9248. Sincerely,
Eugene Masselink (Signed), Secretary to Frank Lloyd Wright. May 2nd, 1955."
Size:
11 x 8.5.
S#:
1092.21.0303 |
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Date: 1955
Title:
Envelope:
Description: Taliesin West Phoenix, Arizona.
Postmarked Phoenix, Ariz. May 4, 1955. "via air mail. Mr. Mel
Blumberg, Clinton Tobacco, Candy and Supply Company, 59 Main Avenue,
Clinton, Iowa."
Size:
9.5 x 4.125
S#:
1092.22.0303 |
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Date:
1955
Title:
Blumberg Correspondence: Letter dated September 20th, 1955.
Description: In response to Mel Blumberg,
"...happy to hear your enthusiastic reaction to your sketches. We
shall expect to see you here on the afternoon of October 1st".
Signed by Eugene Masselink. On Taliesin Letterhead, includes
envelope with Madison Postmark. "Mr. Mel Blumberg, Clinton, Iowa.
Dear Mr. Blumberg: We were happy to hear your enthusiastic reaction
to your sketches - yours and Mrs. Blumberg’s. We shall expect to see
you here on the afternoon of October 1st - unless
anything unforseen arises in which case I shall contact you at once.
Sincerely, Eugene Masselink (Signed), Secretary to Frank Lloyd
Wright. September 20th, 1955."
Size:
11 x 8.5
S#:
1092.23.0303 |
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Date:
1955
Title:
Contract
Description: Blumberg Correspondence: Frank
Lloyd Wright Contract dated September 20th, 1955. 5% of $25,000.00,
proposed cost of house... $1,250.00. "To Mr. Mel R. Blumberg: On
account for Preliminary Sketches according to terms above: 5% of
$25,000.00, proposed cost of house... $1,250.00. The Frank Lloyd
Wright Foundation, Frank Lloyd Wright Architect, Taliesin: Spring
Green: Wisconsin: September 20th, 1955."
Size:
9.5 x 4.125
S#:
1092.24.0303 |
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Date:
1955
Title:
Envelope
Description: Taliesin - Spring Green,
Wisconsin. Postmarked Madison, Wis. Sep. 22, 1955. "Mr. Mel
Blumberg, Clinton, Iowa."
Size:
9.5 x 4.125
S#:
1092.25.0303 |
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Date:
1955
Title:
Blumberg Correspondence:
Description: Letter dated October 4th, 1955. In
response to Mel Blumberg, Sometime between receipt of the letter
dated September 20th and this letter from Mr. Wright, negotiations
broke down. "Dear Blumberg: I guess I am to blame. I remember
telling you that the only thing we could do for you was the "one
room" (so-called) Usonian Automatic which we can show you if you
come to see it." Signed by Frank Lloyd Wright. On Taliesin
Letterhead, includes envelope with Madison Postmark. "Mr. Mel
Blumberg, Clinton, Iowa. Dear Mr. Blumberg: I guess I am to blame. I
remember telling you that the only thing we could do for you was the
"one room" (so-called) Usonian Automatic which we can show you if
you come to see it. Sincerely, Frank Lloyd Wright (Signed), October
4th, 1955."
Size:
11 x 8.5
S#:
1092.26.0303 |
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Frank Lloyd Wright signature. See
additional signatures. |
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Date:
1955
Title:
Blumberg Correspondence:
Description: Three photos of the drawing of the
home. House for Mr. and Mrs. Mel Blumberg, Clinton, Iowa. View from
southeast. Frank Lloyd Wright Architect. Photographs of the
Preliminary illustration of the home. Usonian Automatic concrete
block design. Very similar to the Kalil residence built in
Manchester, New Hampshire, 1955. (S.387). Three Polacolor (Polaroid)
photographs, images flipped horizontally.
Size:
4.25 x 3.375.
S#:
1092.28.0303,
1092.29.0303, 1092.30.0303 |
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Date:
1955
Title:
Blumberg Correspondence:
Description: Three photos of the plan of the
home. House for Mr. and Mrs. Mel Blumberg, Clinton, Iowa. Frank
Lloyd Wright Architect. Floor plan. Photographs of the Preliminary
floor plan of the home. Usonian Automatic concrete block design.
Three Polacolor (Polaroid) photographs, images flipped horizontally.
Size:
4.25 x 3.375.
S#:
1092.31.0303,
1092.32.0303 1092.33.0303 |
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Date:
1955
Title:
Envelope:
Description: Taliesin - Spring Green, Wisconsin.
Postmarked Madison, Wis. Oct. 5, 1955. "Mr. Mel Blumberg,
Clinton, Iowa."
Size:
9.5 x 4.125.
S#:
1092.27.0303 |
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INTRODUCTION
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Melvin R Blumberg was born in
Iowa and lived in Clinton most of his life. In 1931 when he
was about 11 or 12, his mother commissioned a local artist
to paint a portrait of him. A year earlier Grant Wood gained
national notoriety when The Art Institute of Chicago awarded
him a prize of $300 for American Gothic. Most mothers
at the time would have insisted that their children dress up
in their best outfits for a formal portrait. Mel however,
was allowed to wear his favorite clothing, a red and tan
argyle sweater and padded football pants.
By 1955 Mel and Carole were married and had
three children. They admired Wright's work and had ample
opportunity to visit many existing Wright buildings in Iowa.
The Stockman House (1908), Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank
Buillding (1909), Delbert Meier House (1917), Walter House - Cedar Rock (1945), Douglas Grant
House (1946), Alvin Miller House (1946), Carroll Alsop
Residence (1948), and the Jack Lamberson House (1948). This
admiration of Wright's work lead them to contacted him about
designing a home for them in Clinton, Iowa.
Wright agreed to design a home for them.
But after not hearing back from Wright, Mel contacted him,
wondering if he was to busy to design a home for them. On
May 2nd, Wright dictated a response to Eugene Masselink. Dear Mr. Blumberg: You are right
(although the word "overtaxed" has a more than normally
unpleasant ring) we are en route (to) Wisconsin and Mr. Wright
will be there after May 15th. You are welcome to
come to see him if a mutually convenient time can be
arranged. You could telephone us there at Spring Green 9248.
Sincerely, Eugene Masselink, Secretary to Frank
Lloyd Wright. May 2nd, 1955.
They did not take Wright up on the visit,
but Wright did have the opportunity to design the home and
send the plans. The Blumbergs were very pleased and
planned a trip to visit Wright in Wisconsin. On September
20th, Wright dictated a response to Eugene Masselink. Dear Mr.
Blumberg: We were happy to hear your enthusiastic reaction
to your sketches - |
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yours and Mrs. Blumberg’s.
We shall expect to see you here on the afternoon of October
1st - unless anything unforeseen arises in which case I
shall contact you at once. Sincerely, Eugene Masselink,
Secretary to Frank Lloyd Wright. September 20th, 1955.
Mel and Carole made plans for their trip to
Spring Green and decided to take their son Dan with them.
"After we arrived, we toured Taliesin and lunched with
Wright's students", recalled Carole. "After lunch we met
Wright in his office. A fire was burning in the
fireplace, it felt very comfortable, and Wright was very
gracious."
Although initially impressed with the
overall design, and gaining more insight into the details,
they realized "the cost was more than we could afford and it
was probably not the house to raise three children in"
Carole said. "Wright was very understanding, very
nice, and we genuinely enjoyed our time with him."
Three days later Wright Wrote Mel a letter.
Dear
Mr. Blumberg: I guess I am to blame. I remember telling you
that the only thing we could do for you was the "one room"
(so-called) Usonian Automatic which we can show you if you
come to see it. Sincerely, Frank Lloyd Wright,
October 4th, 1955.
Though they declined to build the home,
they continued to follow Wright and his work, even
purchasing Japanese prints, which they later donated the the
University of Iowa.
There were seven Usonian Automatic homes built using concrete molded
blocks. Adelman (S.344), Pieper (S.349), Tonkens (S.386), Kalil
(S.387),
Turkel (S.388), Tracy (S.389)
and Pappas (S.392). Others were built using this method, but
constructed of standard concrete blocks.
There were also other Usonian Automatic
homes designed using concrete molded blocks, but not built.
Some of these projects included: the House for Dr. Victor
Stracke #1 (1951), Pieper-Montooth Office Building (1953)...
April 2009 |
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ORIGINAL DRAWINGS 1955
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A: Original 1955 drawing of the Usonian
Automatic concrete block Blumberg Residence. |
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B: Detail of the original 1955 drawing
of the Usonian Automatic concrete block Blumberg Residence.
Living Room is on the right. |
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C: Detail of the original 1955 drawing
of the Blumberg Residence. Designed with 1' x 2' and 2' x 2'
blocks. Living Room is on the right. |
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D: Detail of the original 1955 drawing
of the Blumberg Residence. Designed with 1' x 2' and 2' x 2'
blocks. Glass is embedded in the Living Room blocks. |
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| Letter
dated May 2nd, 1955. Response to Mel Blumberg, inviting him
to Spring Green. Signed by Eugene Masselink. On Taliesin
West Letterhead, includes envelope with Phoenix Postmark,
Ariz. May 4, 1955. Dear Mr. Blumberg: You are right
(although the word "overtaxed" has a more than normally
unpleasant ring) we are en route Wisconsin and Mr. Wright
will be there after May 15th. You are welcome to
come to see him if a mutually convenient time can be
arranged. You could telephone us there at Spring Green 9248.
Sincerely, Eugene Masselink (Signed), Secretary to Frank
Lloyd Wright. May 2nd, 1955. |
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| Letter
dated September 20th, 1955. Response to Mel Blumberg,
"...happy to hear your enthusiastic reaction to your
sketches. Signed by Eugene Masselink. On Taliesin
Letterhead, includes envelope with postmarked Madison, Wis.
Sep. 22, 1955. Mr. Mel Blumberg, Clinton, Iowa. Dear Mr.
Blumberg: We were happy to hear your enthusiastic reaction
to your sketches - yours and Mrs. Blumberg’s. We shall
expect to see you here on the afternoon of October 1st
- unless anything unforeseen arises in which case I shall
contact you at once. Sincerely, Eugene Masselink (Signed),
Secretary to Frank Lloyd Wright. September 20th, 1955. |
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| Frank
Lloyd Wright Foundation Contract dated September 20th, 1955.
5% of $25,000.00, proposed cost of house... $1,250.00. To
Mr. Mel R. Blumberg: On account for Preliminary Sketches
according to terms above: 5% of $25,000.00, proposed cost of
house... $1,250.00. The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Frank
Lloyd Wright Architect, Taliesin: Spring Green: Wisconsin:
September 20th, 1955. |
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| Letter
dated October 4th, 1955. Response to Mel Blumberg, After
visiting Wright and grasping the size and cost, the declined
to proceed with the home. Signed by Frank Lloyd Wright. On
Taliesin Letterhead, includes envelope postmarked Madison,
Wis. Oct. 5, 1955. Mr. Mel Blumberg, Clinton, Iowa. Dear
Mr. Blumberg: I guess I am to blame. I remember telling you
that the only thing we could do for you was the "one room"
(so-called) Usonian Automatic which we can show you if you
come to see it. Sincerely, Frank Lloyd Wright (Signed),
October 4th, 1955. |
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GRANT WOOD AND MEL BLUMBERG |
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If you ask the average person on
the street who Frank Lloyd Wright is they would probably
know he was an architect, but may not be able to name one of
his works. If you ask the same average person who Grant Wood
was they probably would look at you with a blank stare. But
show them American Gothic and their eyes would light
up with recognition.
Grant Wood (1891-1942), was born in
Anamosa, Iowa, but lived primarily in Cedar Rapids from 1901
until 1934. From 1913 to 1915, Wood lived in Chicago. After
a stint in the Army (1917-1918) Wood returned to Cedar
Rapids and began painting seriously and teaching art in the
Cedar Rapids Community School District.
Wood’s home and studio was located near
downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, from 1924 to 1934. It was in
the Studio that Grant Wood painted one of his most famous
works of art, American Gothic. Wood left the studio at 5
Turner Alley in 1935 upon receiving a teaching position at
the University of Iowa and moved to Iowa City.
Grant Wood’s American Gothic caused a stir
in 1930 when it was exhibited for the first time at The Art
Institute of Chicago and awarded a prize of $300. Newspapers
across the |
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country carried the story,
and the painting of a farm couple posed before a white house
brought the artist instant fame. The Iowa native, then in
his late 30s, was enchanted by a cottage he had seen in the
small southern Iowa town of Eldon. He asked his dentist and
his sister Nan to pose as a farmer and his unmarried
daughter. American Gothic remains one of the most famous
paintings in the history of American art and has become part
of American popular culture.
So, what is Grant Wood's connection with
Mel Blumberg? One year after painting American Gothic he
painted the Plaid Sweater. The boy in the "plaid sweater"
is Melvin Blumberg of Clinton, Iowa, whose mother,
commissioned Wood to paint her son in his favorite clothing, the red
and tan argyle sweater and padded football pants with
braided belt. Mel was about 11 or 12 at the time. Most
mothers would have insisted that their children dress up in
their best outfits for formal portraits. Mel however, was
allowed to wear his football clothes.
In 1984 with the coordination of Edwin
B. Green, Mel and Carole Blumberg donated the Plaid
Sweater to the University of Iowa, Museum of Art. |
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PROCEEDS FROM EVERY SALE GOES TO SUPPORT THE WRIGHT LIBRARY.
