Busted: Frank Lloyd Wright "Failed to Appear in Class"

January 25th 2012 Simon Kuran
Arts & Humanities
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Frank Lloyd Wright's progress report circa 1887, courtesy of UW-Madison Archives.

Even a world-famous architect can’t make it to every class.

The photograph on the left shows a  picture of Frank Lloyd Wright’s progress report with a note from the professor that he had “failed to appear in class.” The image is dated from the 1880s.

Frank Lloyd Wright was admitted to UW-Madison as a special student in 1886. He joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity, took classes part-time for two semesters, and worked with noted professor of civil engineering and architect, Allan D. Conover.

In 1887, Wright left UW-Madison without taking a degree.  He later returned in 1955 to accept an  honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University.

For more information about UW-Madison campus history, contact uwarchiv@library.wisc.edu or visit http://archive.library.wisc.edu

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*The UW-Madison Archives does not endorse the practice of “failing to appear in class.” Even in the middle of winter. When it is cold. Bitter, bitter cold. Unless you are sick, in which case you should most certainly not appear in class. 

Story by UW-Madison Archives - Found in the Archives Blog