By Alison Schlickman, Class of 2015
Today, names like Jeanne Gang and Carol Ross Barney are well-known for shaping Chicago’s skyline and cityscape. …. and female architecture students are now graduating at the same rate as men. But the history of women in architecture, construction and engineering isn’t well known. Landmarks Illinois is hoping to change all that.
Their project, “Women Who Built Illinois,” is a database of places in the state that were designed, engineered, and built by women. The database, available to the public, will be housed on Landmark Illinois’ website. It will include not only places, but information about each of the women identified, their bios and built projects, and links to other articles and archives. A special undertaking, in collaboration with local communities, will be identifying women’s buildings and places that may be eligible for local landmarking or listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
AIA Illinois and AIA Chicago have developed a virtual lecture program based on material in the database. Presented by Lisa DiChiera, Landmark Illinois’ Advocacy Director, and Erica Ruggiero, a principal with McGuire, Iglesi and Associates (a women-owned Evanston design firm), the program tells the stories of some of the Illinois women who were pioneers in these professions. See if you know them.
Elisabeth Martini was the first sole woman owner of an architecture firm (1914), and the second female architect licensed in the state of Illinois. She is known for St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, and for residences in Winnetka and Homewood. Martini founded the Chicago Drafting Club, a precursor to the Women’s Architectural Club of Chicago, for women in the field.
Mary Ann Elizabeth Crawford, a graduate of University of Illinois and MIT, was also a professional engineer. She worked on road maps for Rand McNally, designed a steel plant for Lindberg Engineering, and the interiors of the Bismarck Hotel. Her architectural drawings are found in several museums including the Art Institute of Chicago.
In 1920, Bertha Louise Yerex Whitman became the first woman to graduate in architecture from the University of Michigan. She worked for Perkins Fellows Hamilton as a “draftswoman” and is known for residences in Evanston and Glencoe. Whitman and Juliet Peddle (see below) founded the Women’s Architectural Club of Chicago.
Juliet Alice Peddle, Indiana’s first licensed female architect, studied alongside Bertha Whitman at University of Michigan. Known for modern design and historic preservation, Peddle co-founded the Women’s Architectural Club of Chicago and exhibited work at the 1925 Women’s World’s Fair in Chicago
Beverly Loraine Green, the first African American female architect licensed in the U.S., earned her degree at University of Illinois in 1936. One of the few African Americans to work with the Chicago Housing Authority, lack of opportunity in Chicago led her to New York where most of her projects were built. She worked with Edward Durell Stone on projects at Sarah Lawrence College and University of Arkansas.
Georgia Louise Harris Brown, the first African American graduate in architecture at University of Kansas, studied under Mies at IIT, and developed structural calculations for steel and concrete buildings including 860 Lake Shore Drive and The Promontory Apartments. Although Brown left the United States in the 1950s for lack of opportunities, she continued to work in Brazil.
There’s so much more to learn about women who built Illinois. Here are two places to start:
To register for the September 22, 3:00 pm Zoom presentation “Women Who Built Illinois”, CLICK HERE.
And finally, CLICK HERE for a post on the CAC website about more women we should know! Enjoy.
Thanks, Allison. We need to learn about these women and you have given us a great start.
Great article on women who rarely have the spotlight. Thank you!
We featured St. Luke’s church in Park Ridge on a Churches By Bus tour in 2015. This was Elisabeth Martini’s home church. When the church could not pay her remaining fees after the Depression came along, she agreed to a deal whereby they would pay her a monthly annuity for the rest of her life. It turned out she lived into her late 90’s and eventually collected more than they had owed her in the first place!
Great article – thank you! Makes me want to learn more!
Watch for the Digital Library post on October 2. It will feature resources to learn more about women architects both in Chicago and world-wide.
Alison, you rocked with this article! Such a great topic that includes women of color. So difficult to read that lacking opportunities, the women moved away from Chicago. A loss to the city.
So interesting ! Thanks, Alison !
Must mention Marion Mahony, who was one of the first women in the world to be a licensed architect—graduating from M.I.T. in 1894, She was the first woman to practice architecture in Illinois and spent 15 years working with Frank Lloyd Wright.
Wonderful article, Alison! Thank you!