by Carol H. Morgan

Created on: May 19, 2008   Last Updated: July 16, 2010

It is probably rare for any artist to resonate so strongly with the popular culture in his own lifetime to end up immortalized in popular song lyrics. But something about this architect from the Midwest was different enough to have struck a chord, literally in the work of Paul Simon ("So long, Frank Lloyd Wright"), and figuratively in the amount of recognizability and influence that his body of work achieved.

EARLY YEARS

The rocky personal story of Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) stands almost in complete contrast to his noble architectural heritage. Except for the fact that his mom pegged him as a famous future designer and pasted pictures of famous buildings in his nursery, in his early years it was probably hard to tell exactly how high his career would take him.

Born in Richland Center, Wisconsin, Wright seemed to be clearly a mama's boy, honoring her in many ways for the inspiration and encouragement she gave him. After his parents divorced he changed his middle name from Lincoln to Lloyd - a statement of alliance with his mother's Welsh heritage. Even though his mother always gave him support through optimism and inspiration, she wasn't able to do it through finances.

He wasn't a privileged child, so he took whatever employment he could through his mother's family the Lloyd Joneses, who the family relocated to Spring Green, WI to get financial support from. His father, who Wright didn't especially admire, was somewhat of a Jack of all Trades, doing everything from teaching music lessons to preaching in churches.

His parents were clearly unhappy with each other, divorcing in a time and place when it wasn't particularly common. His mother, Anna, wasn't happy with the standard of living her husband was able to provide, and he clearly had his complaints, also, as the divorce papers list the reason as her 'lack of physical affection.'

YOUNG ADULTHOOD AND EARLY CAREER

Amazingly enough, Wright seems to have not even been the recipient of any formal educational degree. There is no record of his either graduating from high school or earning a degree from the University of Wisconsin, which admitted him under special circumstances.

His first big break seems to be his marriage to a relatively wealthy woman, Catherine Lee "Kitty" Tobin (1871-1959). He was able to purchase some property for their first home, and an adjacent lot for his loyal mother to relocate next to the family. Lloyd Wright was undaunted after being fired from his first job in an architectural firm

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