That Exceptional One: Women in American Architecture, 1888-1988, Exhibition "That Exceptional One: Women in American Architecture,
1888-1988," Exhibition, 1988 Ms.1991.041
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
Federica Goffi, Architectural Intern, and Gerrianne Schaad, Curator of Manuscripts
Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.1991.041
Title
"That Exceptional One: Women in American Architecture, 1888-1988," Exhibition 1988
Quantity
100 Cubic Feet, 3 boxes; oversize panels
Language
The materials in the collection are in English.
Abstract
This collection includes a traveling exhibit created by the American Architectural Foundation of the American Institute of
Architects about women in American architecture. The exhibit starts with Louise Bethune, who in 1888 was the first woman to
join the AIA. Materials include exhibit panels, planning documents and research for the creation of the exhibit.
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University
Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization
form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition
form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with
forms or to submit a completed form.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to research.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder],
"That Exceptional One: Women in American Architecture 1888-1988," Exhibition, Ms1991-041, Special Collections and University
Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Source of Acquisition
The material in the collection was donated in 1991 and March 2000 by the Library and Archives of The American Institute of
Architects to the International Archive of Women in Architecture housed in the Special Collections and University Archives
at the University Libraries of Virginia Tech.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the "That Exceptional One: Women in American Architecture, 1888-1988," Exhibition
was completed in May 2000.
"That Exceptional One: Women in American Architecture 1888-1988" commemorated the 100th anniversary of the election of the
first woman, Louise Blanchard Bethune of Buffalo, New York, to membership in The American Institute of Architects. The idea
for this exhibition on a century of achievements by women came from the AIA Women in Architecture Committee.
The exhibit consisted of the following three sections: "Becoming an Architect" covered the establishment of schools of architecture
in the United States during the late 19th century; the influence of the Beaux-Arts and Bauhaus movements; the political and
social activism of the 1960s and 1970s; and the enrollment gains of women in architecture and other professional school. "Practicing
Architecture" profiled women in professional practice-from the early all-female firm of MIT graduates Lois Lilley Howe, Eleanor
Manning, and Mary Almy, to current and precedent-setting practitioners, Natalie De Blois and Laurinda Spear. It reflected
a wide range of building types, practice types, specialties, and locales. " Gaining Recognition" used an illustrated timeline
to document the evolution of women in architecture as their achievements and numbers grew and as attitudes both among and
about female architects changed over a century.
The collection "That Exceptional One" consists of documents, articles, correspondence, photographs, slides, and other related
material documenting the phases of preparation, organization and display of the exhibition. Researcher notes reflect their
efforts to identify collections and sources of material on women architects. The slides are examples of the architects work.
Also included in the collection is the physical exhibit.