Why did Louis Sullivan refuse Dankmar Adler’s offer to restart their firm?

Louis Sullivan’s refusal to reestablish his firm with Dankmar Adler was an unwise decision made in the wake of their professional separation. When the economic depression of 1893 led to a severe decline in commissions, Adler reluctantly left the architecture profession in 1895 to take a position with the Crane Elevator Company. Sullivan, who had been his partner since 1881, reacted poorly to this departure and accused Adler of disloyalty.1

After finding his new role unsatisfactory, Adler decided to return to architecture just six months later and offered to restart their partnership. Sullivan, however, refused the offer. Following this rejection, Adler opened his own independent office, and Sullivan began practicing alone. Sullivan’s subsequent career struggled, as his temperament was ill-suited for managing all phases of architectural practice, and he eventually faced a near-total collapse of his professional practice.1