Drosten, Mary Lou Architectural Collection Mary Lou Drosten Architectural CollectionMs.2016.008

Mary Lou Drosten Architectural CollectionMs.2016.008


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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

Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Identification
Ms.2016.008
Title
Mary Lou Drosten Architectural Collection n.d.
Quantity
9 Cubic Feet
source
Kushner, Pinky
source
Rivard, Betsy Drosten
Creator
Drosten, Mary Lou, 1910-1991
Language
English .
Abstract
.

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.

Separated Material


Subjects and Indexing Terms


Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Container List

Series I: Personal Papers
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Series II: Professional Papers
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Series III: Office Records
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Series IV: Project Records
Scope and Contents

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.

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