Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)Sherrie A. Bowser
Permission to publish material from Kimiko Suzuki Architectural Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Collection is open for research.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Kimiko Suzuki Architectural Collection, Ms2013-089, Special Collections, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
The Kimiko Suzuki Architectural Collection was donated to Special Collections in November 2013.
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Kimiko Suzuki Architectural Collection was completed in November 2013.
Kimiko Suzuki (1929-1992) attended Japan Women's University and was their first graduate in the housing studies program. Due to the economic conditions of Japan following World War II she could not find work in an architecture office. She instead joined a publishing company because she was promised the same salary as a man.
Following her marriage she found work in an architecture office. She performed her traditional roles in a big family and simultaneously kept working in the architecture office often working until late at night. However, nursing care of her husband's parents forced her to resign from the architectural firm. She thus began a practice out of her home working on residential projects, a kindergarten, and a medical clinic. She developed cancer at 50 and after a long struggle with the illness withdrew from architectural practice at 60. She passed away three years later at 63.
The collection contains 3 sets of drawings and a publication for the Susume Abe residence completed in 1967. Abe was a famous education critic in Japan.