Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Beth Barnard Nickels Architectural Collection, 1941-1990. Accession 44881, 45351. Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from Crown Collectibles, Chesterfield, Virginia, 2010.

Biographical Information

Elizabeth "Beth" Archer Barnard was born on 14 September 1918 at her family home, "Sunnyside," in Prince George County, Virginia. Her mother, Judith Fenner Barnard (1896-1984) was a school teacher for Prince George County Schools and her father, Edgar C. Barnard (b. 1895), was a traveling civil engineer. In 1926, Edgar moved away from Virginia, leaving Beth and her mother at "Sunnyside" with their extended family. He left his drafting equipment to Beth. From an early age she demonstrated a talent for drawing with measured straight lines rather than artistically. Attributing this skill to her father, she wanted to follow in a similar path of engineering or design. Beth's mother and grandmother, however, wanted to see her pursue a career in teaching, as they had. In 1935, Beth graduated from Hopewell High School and enrolled in Farmville State Teachers College. After two years, she transferred to William & Mary College where she excelled in Latin and Mathematics. Beth received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics in June 1939.

After graduation, Beth accepted a teaching position in Lancaster County, Virginia, for $80 a month. In 1940, she switched to the Surry County school system in order to be closer to home. As men began leaving the workforce for wartime enrollment in the armed services, expanded educational and career opportunities were available to women. Teaching during the day, Beth enrolled in engineering and drafting classes offered at night in Hopewell.

In 1942, Beth accepted her first job as a draftsman for the chemical plant Solvay Process Company (Allied Chemical) in Hopewell. She was not entirely satisfied with this position because it did not allow for any creativity. This same year she met Samuel B. Nickels, Jr. (1918-2001), a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. They married on 11 July 1942 in what Beth called her "7-11 Wedding." Beth resigned from Solvay once they were married and spent a year traveling with Sam before he was deployed for service abroad.

During Sam's absence she accepted a position at Camp Lee in the Post Engineer's office. Upon his return in 1946, she went to work as a storefront designer for Binswanger Glass Company. She loved the work and the ability to use both her creativity and her technical skills. When she learned that her salary was only half of what her male colleagues earned, she sought employment elsewhere.

In 1948, Beth went to work for a small architectural firm in Richmond as a draftsman and shortly after was discovered by architect Marcellus Wright Sr. He realized the importance of having a woman on his team as her designs would appeal to the wives of his wealthy clients. Working as a a draftsman and project manager for Marcellus Wright & Son beginning in 1947, she specialized in prominent residential design, specifically in the Windsor Farms area of Richmond. The majority of the collection of her papers at the Library of Virginia features her residential designs and specifications for these grand homes.

Throughout this time, the building industry experienced many booms as well as slower times. During the slow times architectural draftsmen were often "lent" out to other firms to aid with projects. Through this she had the opportunity to work with many other architects, including Frederick Hyland. Beth enjoyed working with Hyland as his ideas were innovative and unprecedented. In her words, she "liked his ideas...They didn't always work, but I liked them." Her efforts at other firms are also seen in the Library of Virginia's collection of her papers, as it houses many plans from these architects.

In 1962, Beth wanted to gain more experience in the technical side of the field. Carl Torrence with the engineering firm Torrence, Dreelin & Associates convinced Beth to join their team. Here she designed the facades and entrances for many modern industrial buildings throughout the city. She experienced great freedom of design choice as they allowed her to adorn their buildings as she saw fit with very little design interference from the engineers. Beth worked with this firm until 1968, rounding out a 20-year career in residential and commercial architectural drafting.

In this same year she switched gears and accepted a job teaching drafting at the Richmond Technical School. Here she could combine her talents with her innate ability to teach. She was held in highest esteem by her students and their efforts won them national awards in competitions held throughout the country. Nickels retired from teaching in 1985.

Beth's prolific contribution to the architectural industry of Virginia is evident in the numerous plans, drawings, elevations, specifications, and correspondence from her career. While not a registered architect, Beth Nickels's contribution to the architectural field was significant. Nickels is recognized as one of the first women in the Richmond area to work in the architectural field. Her work can be seen today throughout the City of Richmond, as many of her buildings are still standing (as of publication of this finding aid, 2012). Her teaching efforts provided the builders of today with their interest in the industry and their foundational skills. Most importantly, the plans and correspondence that she saved provide great insight into the building industry of Richmond in the mid-20th century and without them a portion of history would be lost.

Elizabeth "Beth" Archer Barnard Nickels passed away at "Sunnyside" on 21 March 2012.

Scope and Content

Papers, 1941-1990, of Elizabeth "Beth" Archer Barnard Nickels (1918-2012), consist of materials documenting her education, life, and career. Included are personal and professional correspondence related to her work with various architectural firms and for the Richmond Technical Center; trade catalogues and journals; specifications by firm and project; photographs; letterhead; pay stubs; drawings and plans; sketches; maps; and student drafting projects.

While the contents of this collection mainly reflect Nickels's professional career, a significant collection of personal letters between Beth, her husband, parents, and friends can be found in the Barnard-Nickels Family Papers (LVA Accession 44954).

Arrangement

The collection originally was sorted by firm and miscellaneous drawings by the collector, but contained no chronological order so an arrangement consisting of four series was imposed by the interning archivist.

This collection is arranged into the following series:

I. Professional and Office Correspondence, 1949-1989. II. Industry Trade Catalogues and Journals. III. Specifications, 1948-1968. IV. Project Files, 1941-1990.