August 2024 Auction Ends Thursday, August 29th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/29/2024
Interesting typed letter signed by Frank Lloyd Wright, dated 9 May 1957 on Taliesin West stationery. Wright writes to ''Aaron'', a former student at Taliesin, with Wright requesting that he testify on Taliesin's behalf at a court proceeding regarding its tax-exempt status.
Letter reads in part, ''The Foundation is to appear at a court-hearing...in Madison, State of Wisconsin, concerning income tax. Our status as a cultural organization seems in jeopardy and taxation retroactive. The loss of our present status would probably ruin our work.
We are writing to some of you staunch boys now out in the world for yourselves, asking you to testify as to what of cultural value you received from life at Taliesin -- backing that up with a statement of what you are now doing. Some photographs of your buildings or published recognition of work would help give testimony credence. Would you appear for us in this struggle and testify at the hearing?...''
Wright then continues, ''...The greatest service you could render us would be to appear in court and testify to the value of our work in Organic Architecture where you were concerned with Taliesin leadership. The Foundation will pay your expenses to and from Wisconsin! / The matter is serious. By our enemies we may have Taliesin taken away from us.'' Hand-signed by Frank Lloyd Wright in dark blue fountain pen.
Single page letter measures 11'' x 8.5''. Fold and light creasing, overall near fine. Accompanied by a second letter on Taliesin West stationery signed by Wright's assistant, mentioning that the date of the hearing had been delayed.
Frank Lloyd Wright Letter Signed Regarding Taliesin Losing Its Tax-Exempt Status -- ''...By our enemies we may have Taliesin taken away from us...''
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