Researching Francis Sullivan

The only Canadian pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright aside from Roger d'Astous, Sullivan worked in the Oak Park studio in 1907 but returned to Ottawa in 1908. Sullivan brought the modernist Prairie School style to Canada, building a number of prominent structures, often in the Prairie Style.

Sullivan was born in Kingston, Ontario. He was an architect for the Canadian Department of Public Works from 1908 to 1911, after which he had an independent practice in Ottawa until 1916. In this capacity he frequently designed schools for the Ottawa Catholic School Board. In 1920 he moved to Chicago and became the chief architect for the Chicago Public School Board.

Examples of Sullivan's work include:

* The O'Connor Street Bridge in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada – 1907* 108 Acacia Ave., Ottawa - 1908*Gainsborough Apartments, 285-291 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa - 1911* The Banff National Park Pavilion, (with Frank Lloyd Wright), Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada – 1911* No 7 Fire Station Arthur St., Ottawa – 1912 * Apartment House 204 Laurier Ave. E., Ottawa – 1913* Ecole du Sacré Coeur (now School House Lofts), 19 Melrose Ave., Ottawa – 1912* Pembroke Public Library, 237 Victoria St., Pembroke, Ontario, Canada – 1913* Horticulture Building, Lansdowne Park, Ottawa – 1914* Francis C. Sullivan House, 346 Somerset St. E., Ottawa – 1914* Patrick J. Powers House, 178 James St., Ottawa – 1915* Edward P. Connors House, 166 Huron Ave. N., Ottawa – 1915* Ransome W. Dunning Residence 99 Acacia Ave., Ottawa* Stonewall Post Office (Now a prominent antique shop and bookstore), 357 Main Street, Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada – 1915 * Church of Ste-Claire de Goulbourne (now St. Clare's Catholic Church), near Dwyer Hill, Ontario – 1915* St. Martin of Tours Church, Glen Robinson Ont. (Destroyed by fire in the 1950s).* 6 Allan Pl., Ottawa* Shawville Post Office, 100 Victoria Ave., Shawville, Quebec, Canada – 1917 * Orthopedic Hospital, North Toronto Military Hospital – 1917* Service Storehouse North Toronto Military Hospital – 1917* Military convalescent Home, Coburg, Ont. – 1917* Sir Oliver Mowat Sanatorium, Kingston Ont. – 1917* Infirmary Building, Provincial Sanatorium, Kentville N.S. – 1917* Military Convalescent Home, Guelph, Ont. – 1917* The Lindenlea Housing Project, Ottawa – 1919-21* Bartholomew Armstrong Residence, 8 McLeod St., Ottawa – 1924* Steinmetz High School, N. Mobile St. Chicago – 1925* Calumet High School. E. May St., Chicago – 1925* Edward J. Kelly Estate, Vilas County, near Eagle River, Wisconsin, United States – 1925

Although influenced by Wright, Sullivan's work diverged from Wright's in certain important ways. For example, whereas horizontals predominate in Wright's creations, Sullivan used strong verticals to create tension in his designs.

Sullivan went to Chandler, Arizona while in Wright's employ, and died there on April 4, 1929.

Sullivan, a member of the Kerry O'Sullivan More family, was born in Galway and educated at Trinity College, Dublin, graduating with a Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) in 1745. He was called to the Bar the following year. In 1750 he was appointed Professor of Laws in Trinity, in 1759 Professor of Oratory, and three years later the first Regius Professor of Feudal and English Law. He was especially noted for excellence in the latter fields, and lectures he gave at the University, including commentaries on Magna Carta, were posthumously published in a volume called An Historical Treatise on the Feudal Law, and the Constitution and Laws of England (1772).

Sullivan also had a great interest in Irish history and Irish manuscripts all his life, and employed native scribes in preparing editions of Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of the Taking of Ireland) and the Annals of the Four Masters which never saw print. He died in Dublin on 1 March 1766. His son, William Francis Sullivan (1756–1830) served in the United States Navy, and published plays and poems.