The commission from Edgar Kaufmann was the first major commission Wright received after the stock market collapse in 1929.  Frank Lloyd Wright visited the site in Mill Run, a deep shady glen in a forest with a rushing stream (Bear Run) running through it.  Kaufmann was at first astonished that his architect had put his house over the waterfall, rather than up the slope, looking at it.  "Not to look at it, but to live with it" was Wright's reply.  Kaufmann had envisioned a rustic cabin for weekend retreats; what he got was one of the most famous houses in the world.

(R) "Sajistan" project for John Nesbitt to redesign elements of the Ennis House.  Los Angeles, CA 1941
Built in 1924 for Charles and Mabel Ennis, the building now known as the Ennis-Brown House, is a California State Landmark.  The Ennis couple had abandoned Wright's design on several points, and in the end Wright walked off the project, and stayed away from it.  The building had several owners: John Nesbitt, radio personality and MGM producer and its fourth owner, wrote to Wright questioning many of the building's design elements.  A friendship was born.  Nesbitt and Wright schemed to overhaul the home, taking out the Ennis-inspired details, but these plans went unrealized in the wake of WWII.

The project became a political football and was eventually rejected by city officials.  In 1954 the design was revised only to be rejected again.  In June 1957 the Wisconsin Legislature "killed" the Monona Terrace Project 16 - 15.

The following is just a sample of the many items, in addition to all of the fabulous prints, from Dr. Nordstrom's collection that are available for your viewing pleasure