n September, 1909,
Frank
Lloyd Wright captured headlines when he left his wife and children
and ran off to Europe with the wife of one of his clients. The
scandal caused an uproar. Wright's Oak Park studio closed its
doors leaving his draftsmen and his clients in limbo.
efore his departure,
Wright had searched for someone to finish his outstanding commissions
but none of his former employees were willing. Wright finally
convinced an associate from Steinway Hall, Herman Von Holst to
take the job. Von Holst realized that he needed someone with
a better understanding of Wright's design concepts to please
Wright's clients. So he promptly hired Marion Mahony to finish
the designs.
ahony had worked
for Wright on and off for 14 years. At times she had been his
only employee. She was an outspoken, dramatic woman and the only
female draftsman in Wright's studio. 
Mahony was the second woman to graduate with a degree
in architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and the first licensed female architect in history. She had a
very strong personal relationship with her employer and his wife.
Wright even posed the two women together for a photograph.
arion was an exceptionally
talented artist and draftsman. Her presentation drawings were
based on the style of Japanese prints. The buildings appeared
surrounded by an abundant landscape, recalling Mahony's own interest
in the natural world. Also she contributed many beautiful leaded
glass windows as well as furniture and fireplaces to Wright's
designs.
n 1909, one of Wright's larger
commissions which was put in the hands of Mahony was a house
for Henry Ford. 
Ford
approved Mahony's design and the foundation was laid. But a disagreement
erupted between Ford and Mahony. Ford brought in another architect
to complete the home. All that remains of Mahony's magnificent
home for Ford are the plans at the Mary and Leigh Block Museum
of Art, Northwestern University.
he was also to complete
three of Wright's commissions on a private street in Decatur,
Illinois. Wright had left sketches for a home to be built for
Edward Irving, but two other homes needed to be designed.The
first one Marion drew up was for Robert Mueller. She stuck with
traditional Wrightian concepts such as leaded casement windows
and overhanging eaves. But she added her own decorative touches
such as colored tiles set in plaster.
he last house built
under Marion's direction in Decatur was for Adolph Mueller, Robert's
brother. Marion used some of the elements of her design for Henry
Ford within the Adolph Mueller House. 
While it was based on Wright's style, the Adolph Mueller
House gave Marion a chance to display her own artistic talents.
She filled the living room's tent ceiling with stained glass.
And wrapped the home in a continuous pattern of leaded glass.
The Mueller houses in Decatur Illinois, are two of only three
Mahony houses remaining in America.
on Holst, on Mahony's
recommendation, hired Walter Burley Griffin to develop a landscape
plan for the entire area. Soon Marion and Walter were working
closely in the offices at Steinway Hall. Mahony designed an entry
gate and street lamps to integrate her home designs to Walter's
landscaping.
s the Decatur project
progressed, Marion who was five years older than Walter, began
to think of him more than on a professional level. The friendship
blossomed into marriage in the summer of 1911. News of the marriage
between the two architects was greeted with a surprised reaction
from friends, family and co-workers. No one could believe the
fiery Marion and the mild-mannered Walter were suited to be husband
and wife.
fter their marriage
Marion went to work in Walter's office, becoming his partner
both personally and professionally. But her new role was taken
not without repercussions. Harry Robinson, Griffin's chief draftsman
and fellow classmate from the University of Illinois, resigned
and returned to work for his former employer Frank Lloyd Wright.
Marion became chief draftsman in the Griffin office. She began
to use her pen to breathe life into all of Walters designs.
arion changed her
famous monogram of MLM to MMG, signifying her certainty of her
new marriage. Still her monogram, 
obscured amidst the flora, was the only credit she
would claim. Despite her outspoken nature, her architectural
license, and her recent taste of independence in Von Holst's
office, Marion was never to take a step in that direction again.
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