thumb|Edward J. Wormley for Dunbar Furniture, Tree filer (mod. 4765), 1947
Edward J. Wormley (December 31, 1907 – November 3, 1995) was an American designer of modern furniture. His furniture represented a convergence of historical design and 20th-century innovation that still appeals to contemporary collectors.
Early life
Wormley was born in Oswego, Illinois.
In 1925, when Crouse left for college, he and Wormley maintained frequent and affectionate correspondence. They addressed each other affectionately as “dear heart," discussing "passionate encounters" and planning their future life together. Crouse wrote, "We'll have to wait, though, until we're (heavens, I almost wrote 'married'!) living together." Around Christmas that year, the young couple revealed their relationship to their families.
In 1942, Wormley became the head of the furniture unit of the wartime Office of Price Administration. After leaving in 1944, he founded Edward Wormley and Associates, a private design firm with Dunbar as its main client.
Good Design exhibitions
Wormley was included in the Good Design exhibit series staged by the Museum of Modern Art and the Merchandise Mart between 1950 and 1955 alongside designers like Harry Gitlin, George Nelson, and Charles & Ray Eames.
In 1950, three of Wormley’s works were on display at the Good Design exhibit: an adjustable upholstered wood armchair, a “Short John” coffee table with laminated wood legs, and a “Repartee” gray carpet.
Tables
Wormley's tile-topped tables, created as part of the Janus line in 1957 for the Dunbar Furniture Company, were a partnership between the modern production design aesthetic and the tile traditions of Tiffany and Otto Natzler. Dining tables, stacking tables, and other styles of tables manufactured by Dunbar were also popular at auction.
Personal life
Wormley and Crouse continued their frequent correspondence through the 1930s and early 1940s. The relationship was unstable: Wormley was frequently insecure, and Crouse struggled with his sexuality. Crouse expressed disgust and despair, and spent periods "trying to be regular." Despite this, they shared a deep affection and went on long vacations together. They spoke freely about their sexual experiences with other men, and demonstrated that their relationship was still central to them both. By 1941, the two men were referring to each other as "husband" (Crouse) and "wife" (Wormley).