Ornamental relief

1880s

Fame as theatre architects

Adler & Sullivan first won fame as theatre architects: most of their theatres were in Chicago, but their reputation brought commissions as far west as Pueblo, Colorado, and Seattle (unbuilt).

1890

Chosen to build for the World’s Columbian Exposition

In 1890 Sullivan was one of ten American architects — five from the East and five from the West — chosen to build a major structure for the “White City”, the World’s Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893.

1893

The Panic of 1893 hits the firm’s practice

Like all American architects, Adler & Sullivan suffered a precipitous decline in practice with the onset of the Panic of 1893; according to Charles Bebb, who worked in the office at the time, Adler borrowed money to keep employees on the payroll.

1894

The firm of Adler & Sullivan breaks up

By 1894, amid continuing financial distress, Adler and Sullivan dissolved their partnership (by other accounts, in 1895); the Guaranty Building is considered the firm’s last major project. Adler had been the one who brought in new business, and after the rupture Sullivan received few large commissions: twenty years of financial and emotional decline began, marked by a shortage of commissions, chronic money troubles and alcoholism.

1894

A break with Wright over moonlighting

In 1894 Sullivan broke with Wright, angered that Wright had taken private commissions in breach of his contract; Wright, however, went on calling him “lieber Meister” (“beloved master”) for the rest of his life.

1894

Three medals from the Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs

Sullivan’s was the only building at the fair to win extensive recognition outside America: the following year he received three medals for it from the French Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs.