Dana-Thomas House Foundation
Preserving the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright and Susan Lawrence Dana
The Dana-Thomas House Foundation was founded in 1983 as a not-for-profit organization to ensure the continued care and preservation of the Dana-Thomas House as a historic site. The main objective of the Foundation is to promote citizen awareness of the architectural significance of the Prairie style House. Because the Dana-Thomas House is owned by the State of Illinois and operated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Foundation works cooperatively with the State by sponsoring special events and educational programs for the public. The Foundation has also focused on raising funds and acquiring properties to assist in the restoration and preservation of the House to the period of 1904-1928, the time in which Susan Lawrence Dana resided in the House.
Accomplishments of the Dana-Thomas House Foundation:
Acquisitions
After most of Susan Lawrence Dana’s possessions were sold at a six-day auction in 1943, the Foundation has worked to recover and restore as many items as possible. To date, the Dana-Thomas House Foundation has purchased and donated over $3 million worth of Wright-designed artifacts to the site, plus many Susan Lawrence Dana artifacts.
Items that have been returned to the Dana-Thomas House include:
- Susan's Carriage
- Three Wright original Dana House presentation drawings
- Original Dana House music cabinet
- A Wright-designed original Dana House single pedestal table
- Table Lamp
- Four original Wright-designed dining chairs, two tall and two short
- Wright-designed original double-pedestal Dana House Lamp
- Wright-designed original Dana House Copper Urn
- Sumac Vase
Education
Educational programming
Library of Congress
Wasmuth Photographic projects
Funding Special Projects
Garden restorations
Architectural Lighting
Water Sensors
Carpet Replacement
House Repairs
Trees
Publications
Wright in Springfield quarterly newsletter
Historic Dana-Thomas House Neighborhood Walking Tour
The Dana-Thomas House is an internationally-acclaimed architectural treasure
Won’t you please join us in supporting it?