Storrer Numbers

FarmerBill · Post by **FarmerBill** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:33 pm

Is there a comprehensive and up-to-date list of Storrer numbers online? And are there more recent editions of his Complete Catalog than the 3rd edition (2007) or Companion (revised 2006)?

I'm trying to find the Storrer numbers for the William Heald house in Glen Ellyn, and the James Heald house in River Forest. These are two of Storrer's 29 "newly discovered" (as of 2007 or 2008) Wright houses.

On his website www.franklloydwrightinfo.com he assigns S.204.7 to the Thomas E. Sullivan house in Wilmette, and he assigns S.203.5 and S.203.6 to the houses in Berwyn, but does not give owner names for them. I'm not as interested in the 24 houses on William Street in River Forest.

I don't want to rehash the discussion about whether these 29 houses are legitimate Wright or not, I just want to nail down the details of the two Heald houses and the two houses in Berwyn. I had no luck with internet searches.

Also, it appears that S.122, S.202.1, S.232, and S.413 are unused. Can anyone confirm this? Thank you.

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:49 pm

It seems to me, from having followed Bill's work in the past, that he expects people to keep up on his changes on their own. If he changes, adds or deletes entries, he publishes them somewhere, like his old newsletter or the online Update that has replaced it, and assumes everyone has the information. If one were to rifle through his articles over the years, all the current numbers could undoubtedly be found, but that would be arduous, wouldn't it?

Paul Ringstrom · Post by **Paul Ringstrom** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 1:58 pm

2006 is the more recent edition of the Companion

http://www.amazon.com/Frank-Lloyd-Wrigh ... t_ep_dpt_1

pharding · Post by **pharding** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:28 pm

The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy reviewed some of the houses and the consensus was that it is a hoax. No one else has drunk the Storer Kool-Aid on his goofy claims. I personally have been in 2 of these houses. The two that I toured were clearly not FLW Houses.

jmcnally · Post by **jmcnally** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:42 am

not sure if these help - from earlier edition of the book:
S.232 was the Fallingwater guesthouse alterations
S.122 was Gridley Barn (demolished) in Batavia IL
S.413 was McBean in Rochester MN (Erdman prefab #2) - if I recall, all the prefabs were regrouped into a single number with decimal .1, .2, etc.

Roderick Grant · Post by **Roderick Grant** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 12:39 pm

Careful of spelling, Paul. "Storer" is the name of the man who built the Storer House. Bill's name has double 'r', "Storrer." He gets out of sorts if his name is misspelled.

FarmerBill · Post by **FarmerBill** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 1:18 pm

Thank you jmcnally.

It appears that Rudin is now S.412.1 and McBean is S.412.2 (both Erdman Prefab #2s). The Erdman Prefab #1s are a mishmash of Storrer numbers, from Van Tamelen (S.406) to Lafond (S.411.2).

I assume S.232 for the Fallingwater guesthouse alterations refers to the visitors' theater that was created by enclosing 3 of the 4 carports underneath the servants' quarters. In 1947 a servants' sitting room was built off the kitchen, under Kaufmann Sr.'s terrace, but there does not appear to be a Storrer number for that project.

I never thought I would care about Storrer numbers, but his system is the definitive method of identification. For me it marks my official entry (descent?) into Wright geekdom. If only there was an updated list on his website.

jmcnally · Post by **jmcnally** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:00 pm

Unfortunately, as new editions of the books are published, there is no explanation for deleted numbers. I conversed a year or two ago with Prof. Storrer and included his explanations with some of the listings ("former S.__") on the website www.flwright.us. I have found his numbering system to be an excellent common reference piece, and I take his book with me when I travel.

I believe he is relying on floor plans more heavily in recent years, leading him to remove or add attributions to Wright. Since I am an exterior guy and do not have access to Taliesen records, I am in no position to dispute his research. I look forward to more information about why the William Street houses are suspect. I'll admit I was shocked to hear that they were being considered legit - it's hard to believe an entire neighborhood could have remained under the radar for so long.

Mark Hertzberg · Post by **Mark Hertzberg** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 6:43 pm

Is Storrer's numbering really 'the definitive' system as suggested? Many people use the numbering system used by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and its Wright archives. It combines both the year of the commission and the sequential number of the commission for that year.

Mark Hertzberg

FarmerBill · Post by **FarmerBill** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:08 pm

I didn't know the Foundation had its own numbering system, although it certainly makes sense. Is there an online or published resource containing all their Wright listings? I don't see one on their website.

Mark Hertzberg · Post by **Mark Hertzberg** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:48 pm

I do not have the Monograph, but I believe that this is the numbering system used in the Monograph. It may also be in Tom Heinz' Field Guide. I believe that the Storrer numbering system groups Wright's work by characteristics, among other things. The official archive system is simpler: Year of the work, and number of the project from that year.

Mark Hertzberg

DavidC · Post by **DavidC** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:54 pm

The Foundations' is also the system used in the new "Complete Works" books.

David

george nichols · Post by **george nichols** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:40 am

An explanation of the numbering system is contained in the introduction to "An Index to the Taliesin Correspondence".

G.N.

george nichols · Post by **george nichols** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 12:33 pm

Forgive my not mentioning in my previous post that also there are two lists,alpha and numerical,that list all of Wright's work,built and unbuilt,each over 20 pages.

G.N.

Paul Ringstrom · Post by **Paul Ringstrom** » Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:03 pm

Title Frank Lloyd Wright, an index to the Taliesin correspondence: Chronological index, 1947-1965, Volume 2
Editor Anthony Alofsin
Publisher Garland, 1988
Length 864 pages

I can't find anyone selling this book on the internet.

Wright Chat

Storrer Numbers

Storrer Numbers

Storrer numbers

T*** numbering system.

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