September 2024 Auction Ends Thursday, September 26th, 5pm Pacific
Large Frank Lloyd Wright archive related to the Butterfly Bridge project in San Francisco, including four letters signed by Wright and three telegrams from him. Correspondence is from 1953-1954 when Wright designed the bridge, a famous but ultimately doomed project that was to be a secondary bridge from San Francisco to Oakland (running alongside the existing Bay Bridge). The bridge was heralded as an elegant, modern design using reinforced concrete, rather than streel trusses, ostensibly needing little maintenance. At the center of the bridge the roadways diverged to create ''butterfly wings'', allowing travelers to park their cars in a greenbelt to enjoy gazing upon the San Francisco Bay. As referenced in these letters, Wright designed a model for the Butterfly Bridge which was used to garner public and political support.
The correspondence here is very interesting regarding the obstacles that Wright and Aaron Green, his California representative, encountered as they attempted to gain traction for the project throughout the Bay area. While it's not completely understood what doomed the project (some blame the steel industry), the letters here strongly indicate that the poor reputation of Jaroslav J. Polivka - the structural engineer who had previously worked with Wright on the Guggenheim Museum - was the culprit. Wright even seems to poke fun of Polivka's poor English in one of the letters and discusses bringing on Eduardo Torroja from Spain to replace Polivka. In addition to the letters and telegrams, lot also includes over two dozen pages of retained letters, notes and a telegram, many of which reveal internal details about the project and problems with Polivka.
Lot begins with a letter signed by Wright dated 25 February 1953 in which he tells Green that it's a ''Good idea to go ahead with the model. But better to get next to the authorities first. When do we see the Mayor...'' In Wright's next letter signed, dated 17 June 1953, he thanks Green for news of the model and then pokes fun at Polivka's English, writing, ''Polivka 'ain't no wiolets'. He is up against the 'collaps' in L.A. / I would send for [structural engineer Eduardo] Torroja (Spain) if the traffic would bear it. That is, if the prospect was good enough for the expenditure of a couple thousand dollars...'' In addition to his signature, letter also has some handwritten edits by Wright.
Wright's letter follows on the heels of a retained letter from Green where he writes at length about the project. In part, ''Unfortunately, Polivka is little help, probably worse than none...It is most frustrating that his speaking does not convey his technical accomplishments and I know that some of my work has unwittingly been undone by him. Also unfortunately , I find that Polivka is very much disliked personally by his local professional colleagues and they take every opportunity to work against his professional reputation... thereby against the bridge. Rumors are rife that a recent structure engineered by him has collapsed and I am now checking to determine what element of truth is involved. He was evasive when I questioned him about it. For his sake and that of the good favor towards your bridge design I hope the rumor proves false...'' Also in this letter Green states that ''The reaction of the public to your bridge model has been and still is most remarkable...but I do find the 'public' to be a most unwieldly vehicle...We have now had the model on display at five different places and are very happy it was made portable...we now also have a full window display 13 ft. wide, in the office building headquarters of the San Francisco Examiner (Hearst Newspaper) on an important street...The only spoken opposition we have encountered is from the local engineers, all speak dubiously of its feasibility, and some vociferously. If by any chance you could get the active support of some well-known man in engineering, rather than Polivka, I believe it might possibly help put the idea over... although further, almost Herculean efforts of 'promotion' probably are also necessary in order to 'get through' to the politicians who hold the whip hand...''
In Wright's next signed letter, dated 29 June 1953, he writes, ''Dear Aaron: Am sorry about Polivka's trouble. May not be his fault, But - I've been planning for some time to bring Torroya over for a consultation and will do so now. So you can let the word go abroad that he will be with us on the bridge...''
In the next retained letter by Green, dated 12 July 1953, he gives details on the bridge progress and also the building designed by Polivka that collapsed. Letter reads in part, ''The California State Legislature has made a decision to build a 'southern crossing' of the bay and now the Washington politicians are about to act on keeping tolls on the existing bridge...in order to help finance the new one...The State Engineers are already working, rather secretively it seems, on preliminary investigations and schemes for this southern crossing. We have been quite ignored by the State politicians on your bridge idea thus far and I am afraid that will continue to be true unless some pressure could be brought to bear from some yet undiscovered source. For the time being, I am trying to arrange that the model be exhibited at the state capitol (Sacramento) so as to get it directly under their nose.''
He continues, ''I was surprised and pleased that you are bringing Torroja into it and am doing my beset to spread the information, however, speaking frankly, I find that his name is not making much of an impression as yet. It will be extremely difficult to overcome the harm done by Polivka's recent difficulty. Unfortunately that issue was published in the Engineering News Record, a national publication, and has done a great deal of harm towards discrediting your bridge idea even in those circles favorably inclined. Professionally, I think Polivka is now doomed in this area. Pre-stressed Roof trusses which he designed for a winery building collapsed and were replaced by trusses engineered by someone else. The contractor involved has issued complaint against him and he is being investigated by State License Board for possible revocation of license. Polivka claims the trusses were not properly constructed and were damaged before erection. That could well be true, but unfortunately, the fact which impresses people most is that the structure collapsed and the damage to his reputation whether justified or not is irreparable. / The main fact which I am emphasizing, when this issue comes up for discussion, is that the bridge is your design and not Polivka's and that his troubles have no bearing whatsoever upon the validity or feasibility of your concept...''
The beautiful but damned Butterfly Bridge was ultimately forgotten, with an additional telegram by Wright from 1954 indicating the model had been moved down to Los Angeles. With much more content about one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most interesting projects, and also mentioning other projects such as the Anderton Court Shops in Beverly Hills, an art center at Cal Berkeley and the Price Tower skyscraper. Wright's signed letters measure 11'' x 8.5'' on Taliesin stationery. Overall in very good condition.
Frank Lloyd Wright Lot of Correspondence Regarding San Francisco's ''Butterfly Bridge'' -- Includes 4 Letters Signed by Wright, 3 Telegrams & Dozens of Retained Letters & Documents
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