11
slung horizontal orientation. Iterations of Prairie Style houses are found in Berkeley and Oakland, but are rare in San
Francisco. By the 1920s, Wright’s design sensibilities and geographic influence shifted dramatically as he focused on
interlocking, textile concrete block Mayan Revival residences in Los Angeles.
Despite his earlier acclaim, Wright’s popularity waned in the 1920s and he was largely ignored in the influential 1932
MoMa exhibition “Modern Architecture: International Exhibition.” His most renowned works, including “Falling
Water” (1934‐1937) and the Johnson Wax Building (1936‐ 1939) – arguably the apex of his career – were designed
when Wright was in his sixties. With over 500 designs built, Wright has left a lasting legacy on the American
landscape.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s work and design theories influenced generations of architects across the United States and
helped spawn a new design aesthetic that addressed the natural environment, contained minimal superfluous
ornamentation, and emphasized function, flexibility, and an honest expression of a building’s structural frame. More
important is the legacy of Wright’s disciples, members of the Taliesin Fellowship who are among the key architects of
Modern design. Taliesin Fellows with works in the San Francisco Bay Area include Frederick Langhorst, Mark Mills,
and Richard Neutra.
Of the approximately 300 extant buildings designed by Wright, the V. C. Morris Gift Shop is the only one located in
San Francisco. Wright proposed other structures for San Francisco, including a skyscraper for the Press Club in 1920,
a house for V. C. Morris in 1945, a mortuary in 1948 and a concrete “butterfly” bridge between San Francisco and the
East Bay in 1949, but none were realized except the V. C. Morris Gift Shop.
V. C. Morris
Vere C. Morris and his wife Lillian Isaacs Morris operated their gift shop at 140 Maiden Lane for 22 years. Vere
Conover Morris was born in the town of Brighton, Ohio on February 2, 1883 to David E. Morris and Clara Bachus.
20
By 1900 the Morris family, including brothers Merle J. and Clifford D., was living in Brick Township, County of
Ocean, New Jersey. 17-year old Vere, an 8
th
grade graduate, worked as a news dealer.
21
By 1910, Vere had moved to
Brooklyn, New York and was living in a boarding house and working as a wallpaper salesman.
22
Vere took his first
trip to England in 1914, listing his profession as an importer
23
and two years later he worked as a salesman for the F.J.
Emmerich Co.
24
In 1917, Vere was a business manager in a photography studio.
25
Later he was an instructor at the
Parsons School of Design in New York.
26
Lillian Isaacs was born in Oakland on July 10, 1887. Her father, John D, Isaacs was an engineer for Southern Pacific
Company. As a young woman, Lillian was considered one of the most beautiful "society belles" in the Bay Area, and
in 1907 was the subject of a story in the San Francisco Call, saying the “smart set” would be losing a “prominent
leader” because her father was being transferred to Chicago.
27
About 1912, the Isaacs family moved to New York.
During this time, Lillian and her mother frequently visited San Francisco, often staying for the entire winter. Lillian
met Vere when she attended his lecture at Parsons in New York. She often told friends that she had first fallen in love
20
Ohio Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962.
21
United States Census, 1900.
22
United States Census, 1910.
23
UK, Outward Passenger Lists, July 18, 1914.
24
New York City Directories, 1916.
25
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
26
Millie Robbins, "A Jewel on Maiden Lane," 21.
27
"Society Belle of Oakland Will Reside in Chicago: City Loses Leader in Smart Set," San Francisco Call, January 19, 1907, 4.