Digitized Content from the Adler and Sullivan Oakland Passenger Station Drawings | Illinois History and Lincoln Collections

The digitized content of the Adler and Sullivan Oakland Passenger Station Drawings consists of 12 drawings of architects Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan's plans for the Oakland Passenger Station, an Illinois Central Railroad Company passenger station located on 39th Street, in Chicago. The plans were prepared in May 1893 to accommodate "local passenger transportation" to the World's Columbian Exposition.

Architects Dankmar Adler (1844-1900) and Louis Sullivan (1856-1924) gained prominence through their joint firm, Adler & Sullivan, during the 1880s and early 1890s. Adler emigrated with his family from Germany in 1854, and Sullivan was born in Boston, the son of two immigrant parents. Sullivan is known as the "father of modernism" and mentored Frank Lloyd Wright. After beginning their careers separately, in 1880 Sullivan became a partner in Adler's firm, beginning a productive period for each architect.

The digitized content contains twelve drawings signed by Adler and Sullivan, Architects, and by E. T. Jeffrey, General Manager. Only item 12 lacks any signatures, and 7 and 9 lack Jeffreyâ??s name. The drawings feature floor plans and construction for the Oakland, or 39th St., Passenger Station and surrounding area. The Illinois Central Railroad Company passenger station was intended to provide train transport for local passengers attending the Worldâ??s Columbian Exposition, and the plans were prepared in May 1893.

The Adler and Sullivan Oakland Passenger Station Drawings, 1893 (MS 001) were completely digitized in 2019. Items are available online at the University of Illinois Digital Library. A preservation copy of the items is available to IHLC and digital preservation staff at the Library Digital Repository: https://medusa.library.illinois.edu/collections/1445.