Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
Business Number: 540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish material from Mary Lou Drosten Architectural Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Acquisition Information
.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Mary Lou Drosten Architectural Collection was completed in March 2017.
Biographical / Historical
Mary Lou Drosten was born on July 5, 1910 in St. Louis, Missouri. Drosten attended Washington University in St. Louis from 1928-1933. There, she received a B.A. in Architecture . After graduation, Drosten became a caseworker. In 1937, Drosten married Fred Drosten. Mary Lou Drosten and Fred Drosten had four children. Throughout her life, Drosten lived in St. Louis, MO; Oak Ridge, TN; Nicaro, Cuba; Chattanooga, TN; Huntsville, AL; and retired in St. Louis, MO. In Chattanooga, TN, Mary Lou owned Drosten Design and worked on many projects. Some projects of note include a building design for a dental surgeon (1934), 7-room residence for the Drosten family in Chevy Chase (1937), and proposal for a new hospital for polio in Des Moines (1942). Despite Drosten suffering from polio, she continued to work in the architectural field. Drosten died on November 16, 1991.
Scope and Content
The Mary Lou Drosten Architectural Collection documents Mary Lou Drosten's personal and professional life as an architect. The collection contains Mary Lou Drosten's personal papers, including biographic information such as newspaper articles documenting Mary Lou Drosten's contraction of polio and her remarkable recovery. Mary Lou Drosten collected newspaper articles, advertisements, and other material on social inequality. Drosten's primary interest was women's rights, but she also collected materials on racial discrimination. Mary Lou Droston's professional papers include associations and committees such as the Association of Women in Architecture , Huntsville League of Women Voters, and Congress on American Women Leaders. In addition, Drosten maintained project records, including research materials, financial records, contracts, photographs, and detailed drawings.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in original order as detailed by the creator.
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Drosten, Mary Lou, 1910-1991
- Kushner, Pinky
- Rivard, Betsy Drosten
Container List
- Biographical Information
- box-folder 1 folder: 1
Biography - Mary Lou Drosten
- box-folder 1 folder: 2
Biographies/"Who's Who?"
- box-folder 1 folder: 3
Employment/Application Letters
- box-folder 1 folder: 4
Drosten Residence in Huntsville
- box-folder 1 folder: 5
Architectural Projects List (by Family)
- box-folder 1 folder: 1
- Student Work
- box-folder 1 folder: 6
Beginning 1930, Design etc.
- box-folder 1 folder: 7
- box-folder 1 folder: 8
Materials
- box-folder 1 folder: 9
- box-folder 1 folder: 10
Ornament
- box-folder 1 folder: 11
- box-folder 1 folder: 12
Geology
- box-folder 1 folder: 13
Playground Course
- box-folder 1 folder: 14
History of Art
- box-folder 1 folder: 15
- box-folder 1 folder: 16
- box-folder 1 folder: 17
Washington University: Working Drawings
- box-folder 1 folder: 18
Washington University: Sketches for Advanced Design Project
- box-folder 1 folder: 19
Schoolhouse for the Twenty-first Century
- box-folder 1 folder: 20-22
Washington University [Alumni Files]
- box-folder 1 folder: 6
- Civic Society
- box-folder 1 folder: 23
Chattanooga Community Model City Affairs
- box-folder 1 folder: 24
Huntsville Model Homes
- box-folder 1 folder: 25
Huntsville Sketches
- box-folder 1 folder: 26
The City
- box-folder 1 folder: 27
Model City
- box-folder 1 folder: 28
Great Decisions
- box-folder 1 folder: 29
Huntsville Council on Human Relations
- box-folder 1 folder: 30
Huntsville Arts League and Museum Association
- box-folder 2 folder: 1
Civic Engagement/LTE's Clippings
- box-folder 2 folder: 2
- box-folder 2 folder: 3
- box-folder 1 folder: 23
- Associations and Committees
- box-folder 2 folder: 4
Washington D.C., 1974
- box-folder 2 folder: 5
AIA National Convention, 1975
- box-folder 2 folder: 6
AIA Bulletins
- box-folder 2 folder: 7
AIA Meeting, St. Louis
- box-folder 2 folder: 8
AIA
- box-folder 2 folder: 9
AIA Membership Committee
- box-folder 2 folder: 10
AIA Public Relationship Committee
- box-folder 2 folder: 11-12
AIA Bus Tours
- box-folder 2 folder: 13
AIA Tours
- box-folder 2 folder: 14
AIA Speakers
- box-folder 2 folder: 15
AIA Meeting-St. Louis
- box-folder 2 folder: 16
Alpha Alpha Gamma-AWA
- box-folder 2 folder: 17
History of AWA
- box-folder 2 folder: 18
Los Angeles Chapter-AWA
- box-folder 2 folder: 19
Alpha Alpha Gamma & AIA St. Louis, Monsanto
- box-folder 2 folder: 20
Alpha Alpha Gamma: Correspondence
- box-folder 2 folder: 21
- box-folder 2 folder: 22-23
- box-folder 2 folder: 24
- box-folder 3 folder: 1-2
- box-folder 3 folder: 3
- box-folder 3 folder: 4
- box-folder 2 folder: 4
- Conferences
- box-folder 3 folder: 5-6
- box-folder 3 folder: 7
- box-folder 3 folder: 8
Aspen 1966-Notes
- box-folder 3 folder: 9
- box-folder 3 folder: 10
- Writings
- box-folder 3 folder: 11
Richard Neutra
- box-folder 3 folder: 12
Union Station Supplement to WAL's "Historic Structures"
- box-folder 3 folder: 13
- box-folder 3 folder: 11
- Research Notes
- box-folder 3 folder: 14
Notes for "Survival Through Design"
- box-folder 3 folder: 15
Notes for "Doctor's Offices and Clinics: Medical and Dental"
- box-folder 3 folder: 16
Notes for "The Natural House"
- box-folder 3 folder: 17
- box-folder 3 folder: 14
- Reference Files
- box-folder 3 folder: 14-21
- box-folder 4 folder: 1
H. May Steinmesch: Architect 1930s
- box-folder 4 folder: 2
St. Louis Building Code P.W. Martin Room 208 City Hall
- box-folder 4 folder: 3
- box-folder 4 folder: 4
St. Louis EADs Bridge., 1904, W.F., Brick, Proetz
- box-folder 4 folder: 5
Knoll au Louvre 1972
- box-folder 4 folder: 6
- box-folder 4 folder: 7
Knoll Index of Contemporary Design
- box-folder 4 folder: 8-9
Construction
- box-folder 4 folder: 10
Face Brick Tables
- box-folder 4 folder: 11
Yellow Pine Timbers Booklet
- box-folder 4 folder: 12
Patios
- box-folder 4 folder: 13
Decorating Planning
- box-folder 4 folder: 14
Pencil Sketching-Watson
- box-folder 4 folder: 15
Worlds Fair Houses - 1932-1933, 1940
- box-folder 4 folder: 16
"House of the Modern Age": Park Avenue at Thirty-ninth Street, New York"
- box-folder 4 folder: 17
The Architectural Forum: Including "Building Money"
- box-folder 4 folder: 18
House & Home, Sept. 1936
- box-folder 4 folder: 19
"House Beautiful Building Manual: New Produces, Plans, Designs", Spring 1936
- box-folder 4 folder: 20
Planning and Remodeling Bathrooms
- box-folder 4 folder: 21
Your Second Home: Masonite Corporation
- box-folder 4 folder: 22
Open House: Reviewing Your New Wood
- box-folder 10
Panelfold Doors Pamphlet, n.d.
- box-folder 10
General Specifications for Your New Home, n.d.
- box-folder 10
Crane: Modern Kitchen Equipment, n.d.
- box-folder 8
Home Planners Inc, "Good Details", n.d.
- box-folder 4 folder: 22
- box-folder 4 folder: 23
Mary Lou Drosten: Design
- box-folder 4 folder: 24
Drosten Designs
- box-folder 4 folder: 25
Drosten Design Construction Notes
- box-folder 4 folder: 26
Construction Photos (project unknown), May 1962
The following is a list of architectural projects carried out by Mary Lou Drosten
Arrangement The Project Index is a way to organize the various formats of architectural records from the same project. The index is arranged alphabetically by client name or project name. It contains information, where available, about the location, date, project type, architect, collaborators, photographers, and formats for each project in the collection.
[Project Index link]
A Summary of the Project Index is listed below.
- box-folder 4 folder: 27
Bodley, Don and Judy (3790 Cuscawilla Trail, Chattanooga, TN; 1964; bathroom remodel)
- box-folder 4 folder: 27
Bodley, Don and Judy (3003 Ozark Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1965-1968; interior design)
- box-folder 4 folder: 28
Bomze, Howard (6942 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1975; landscape)
- box-folder 7
Bomze, Howard (6942 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1976; screened porch)
- box-folder 4 folder: 29
Brigham Jr., H.F. (4 Narraganset, Ladue, MO; 1976; residence addition)
- box-folder 4 folder: 30
Brock Construction Co. (Chattanooga, TN; 1962; exterior aesthetic suggestions)
- box-folder 5 folder: 1-2
Brownlee, Roland (939 Talley Road, Chattanooga, Tn; 1962; garden, terrace and interior design)
- box-folder 5 folder: 3
Burgess, Hubert (1634 Greenhills Drive, Hixson, TN; 1964; interior design)
- box-folder 5 folder: 4
Bus shelter (Stuart Heights Garden Club, Chattanooga, TN; 1964; proposed bus shelter design)
- box-folder 5 folder: 5
Cherry, James D (7425 Kingsbury, Uniersity City, MO; 1975; garden design)
- box-folder 5 folder: 6-9 box 15
Children's Clinic (Green & Miller, 304 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN; 1956; design and oversight of construction)
- box-folder 5 folder: 11 box 10
Community Garden (South Side, 6600 block of Delmar Blvd, University City, MO; 1977; proposed garden for vacant lot)
- box-folder 5 folder: 10
Chattanooga Unitarian Church
- box-folder 7
Crenshaw Clinic (St. Louis, MO; 1934; dental clinic (first job))
- box-folder 5 folder: 12
Davis, Robert S. (6911 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1979; kitchen renovation)
- box-folder 5 folder: 13
Derthick & Henley (Chattanooga architectural firm; 1962; drafting job, proposed bell tower for methodist church)
- box-folder 5 folder: 14-15 box 10
Dorris, Andrew and Barbara (6370 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1977; foundation planting)
- box-folder 5 folder: 16-21 box 8 box 9 box 13
Drosten, Fred and Mary Lou (46 Rye Lane, St. Louis MO; 1938; architect's residence)
- box-folder 5 folder: 22-36 box 8 box 11 box 13
Drosten, Fred and Mary Lou (2883 Stuart Terrace, Chattanooga, TN; 1955; architect's residence)
- box-folder 6 folder: 1 box 11
Drosten, Fred and Mary Lou (945 Old Bonhomme Rd, University City, MO; 1979; addition to architect's home)
- box-folder 6 folder: 2 box 11
Falkowski, Edward and Evelyn (2206 East Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL; 1966; interior/exterior decoration)
- box-folder 6 folder: 3
Folts, Bishop, and Thomas Office (Provident Building, Chattanooga, TN)
- box-folder 6 folder: 4 box 11 box 13
Gibson, Raymond (Regal and Berkeley Red Bank, TN; 1964; plan revisions)
- box-folder 6 folder: 5-6
Graham, Dr. & Mrs. Frank B. (211 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1958; sketches drive & residence)
- box-folder 6 folder: 7
Gronaua, Drs. Axel and Marianna (7062 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1975; kitchen flooring)
- box-folder 6 folder: 8-9
Harford, Dr. and Mrs. Carl G. (6940 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1970; porch and deck)
- box-folder 6 folder: 10 box 10
Harford, Dr. and Mrs. Carl G. (6940 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1978; kitchen renovation)
- box-folder 6 folder: 11
Hayden, Mr. and Mrs. Donald (2918 Nurick Drive, Chattanooga, TN; 1962; garage change and repairs)
- box-folder 7
Hayes, Tom & Paula (6926 Dartmouth Avenue, University City, MO; 1978; double decker screen porch)
- box-folder 6 folder: 12
Hayes, Tom & Paula (6926 Dartmouth Avenue, University City, MO; 1974; kitchen and bathroom)
- box-folder 6 folder: 13
Kruesi, Paul R. (302 Arrow Drive, Signal Mountain, TN; 1962; consultant and figures)
- box-folder 10
Kushner, Peter and Pinky (2633 Harris St., Eugene, OR; 1978; suggested revisions (not executed))
- box-folder 6 folder: 14 box 12
Levine, Charles (Altamont Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1957; residence)
- box-folder 6 folder: 15 box 14
Livingston, Dr. and Mrs Phillip (111 Provident Building, Chattanooga, TN; 1960; interior design of medical office)
- box-folder 6 folder: 16-19
Livingston, Dr. and Mrs Phillip (1718 Minnekahda Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1956; overseer for Richard Neutra project; interior design of medical office; cd of letters w/ Neutra)
- box-folder 6 folder: 20
Loeffel, Dr. Ellen (Rooms 201-211, 425 DeBaliviere, St. Louise, MO; 1945; interior design of medical office)
- box-folder 6 folder: 21 box 12
Marsh, Mr. and Mrs. Fred (Carroll Lane, Chattanooga, TN; 1959; plan preparation)
- box-folder 6 folder: 22
Memorial Baptist Church (Red Bank, TN; 1959; sketches, classrooms, etc)
- box-folder 6 folder: 23
Metcalf, Richard P. and Margaret (346 East Drive, Oak Ridge, TN; 1964; remodel w/ balcony & interior design)
- box-folder 6 folder: 26 box 12
Miller, Dr. Robert T. (Minnekahda Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1957; house design)
- box-folder 6 folder: 27 box 11
Nelson, Mrs. Anita (Lancaster Avenue, Red Bank, TN; 1963; house placement)
- box-folder 6 folder: 24-25
Oak Ridge Township, Tennessee (Oak Ridge, TN; 1948-50; high school renovation)
- box-folder 6 folder: 28 box 13
Poss, Mr. and Mrs. H.M. (319 Buena Vista Drive, Chattanooga, TN; 1962; rainwater drainage and patio)
- box-folder 6 folder: 29
Rivard, Loren and Caroline (Baltimore, MD; 1977; proposed renovation)
- box-folder 6 folder: 30
Robinson, W.W. Mr. and Mrs. (Forest Park Drive, Signal Mountain, TN; 1963; interior design)
- box-folder 6 folder: 31 box 7
Rudner, Dr. and Mrs. Richard (6939 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1977; landscape plans)
- box-folder 6 folder: 32
Rust, Mr. and Mrs. Jack (102 Windmere Chattanooga, TN; 1965; bathroom remodel)
- box-folder 6 folder: 33
Shavin, Seymour and Gerte (334 North Crest Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1977; interior design for Wright house)
- box-folder 6 folder: 34-35 box 15
Shearer, Dr. Wayne (306 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN; 1963; optometric clinic)
- box-folder 6 folder: 36 box 7
Shearer, Dr. Wayne (122 Valley Brook Road, Hixson, TN; 1965; consultation on house design)
- box-folder 6 folder: 37
Solomon, Jay and Rosalind (2932 Folts Drive, Chattanooga, TN; 1958; remodel for residence)
- box-folder 6 folder: 38
Sotlongs Tennis Court (unknown; 1962; Tennis court)
- box-folder 6 folder: 39 box 11
Thomas, Elmer (1111 and 1113 East Third Street Chattanooga, TN; 1958-63; commercial building consultation)
- box-folder 6 folder: 40-41 box 7 box 12
Trundle, Dr. Frank (2943 Folts Circle, Chattanooga, TN; 1961; residential design)
- box-folder 6 folder: 43
Weil, Mark L. (1201 Westmoreland Ave., SE Huntsville, AL; 1967; landscape design)
- box-folder 6 folder: 42
Weinberg, Morris and Janie Mae (8601 Clarendon Lane, Hixson, TN; 1964; addition to residence)