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A Guide to the Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architectural Collection, 1926-1981 Roque-Gourary, Judith Architectural Collection Ms2011-074

Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architectural Collection, 1926-1981

A Collection in
Special Collections
Collection Number Ms2011-074


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Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Contact Information:
University Libraries
P.O. Box 90001
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, Virginia 24062-9001
USA
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Email: specref@vt.edu
URL: http://spec.lib.vt.edu/
Processed by: Kathryn Shackelford, Special Collections
2011 By Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. All rights reserved.

Repository
Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Collection Number
Ms2011-074
Title
Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architectural Collection, 1926-1981
Physical Characteristics
4.2 cu. ft. 2 Boxes; 9 Tubes of Rolled Drawings; 1 Oversized Folder
Creator
Roque-Gourary, Dita
Language
Materials are in French, German, Dutch and English.
Abstract
Born in 1915 in St. Petersburg, Russia; Architect and founder of the Union of Women Architects in Belgium. Studied in Germany and Austria before emigrating to Belgium at the onset of World War II. She specialized in remodels of 19th century residences. Outspoken advocate for women in the profession. Collection consist of drawings, personal journals, business records, as well as published articles about the Union of Women Architects of Belgium and Roque-Gourary.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architectural Collections must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Contact donor if material is used in any exhibit or publication. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary, Ms2011-074, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architecture Collection was donated to Special Collections in September 2010.

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architectural Collection took place in September and October of 2011.

Biography

Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary was born July 26, 1915 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her family fled the country following the revolution of 1917 and relocated to Naples, Italy. As a child, she studied abroad in Germany and Austria. When Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, Roque-Gourary was three tests away from receiving her architecture degree. She promptly left Vienna and transferred to La Cambre in Belgium to finish her studies. She remained in Belgium for the remainder of her career. Much of her work from 1941-1945 was destroyed in the occupation. From 1945-1948 she worked alongside architect Jean Nicolet-Darche until departing to form her own private practice. Roque-Gourary specialized in remodeling and modernizing 19th and 20th century residences during the reconstruction period.

In 1978, Roque-Gourary created the Union of Women Architects in Belgium and acted as president until 1983. She was an outspoken advocate for women in the profession and a noted speaker for The International Union of Women Architects (UIFA). Numerous articles and interviews are attributed to her work and she continued to promote the work of women in architecture until her retirement in 1984.

Scope and Content

The collection contains notebooks and sketchbooks from Roque-Gourary's childhood, documents and drawings related to her work with Jean Nicolet-Darcge as well as her private practice, and numerous publications of her work. In addition, one will find personal documents, speeches, and various ephemera relating to women in architecture. The majority of the collection is in French, however early grade and secondary school work is in German while articles from late in her career are written in Dutch.

Index Terms

    Subjects:

  • International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA)

    • Genre and Form Terms:

  • Architectural drawings.

    • Occupations:

  • Architects.

Contents List

SERIES I: Personal Papers
  • Box 1
    Identification
  • Box 1
    Personal Poetry
    German
  • Diaries/Journals
    • Box 1
      Poetry Journal, 1924-1926
    • Box 1
      Poetry Journal, 1927-1928
    • Box 1
      Journal, 1931-1940
    • Box 1
      Journal, 1932-1937
  • Student Work
    • Box 3
      Box 9
      Oversize Folder 1
      Class Artwork
    • Box 1
      Class notebook, 1940
    • Box 1
      Primary School Report Cards, 1922-1931
    • Box 1
      Secondary School course certificates, 1933-1938
    • Box 1
      Transfer documents and Diploma Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Architecture et des Arts Decoratifs de Belgique, 1940-1941
  • Box 1
    Photographs, Architectural social events
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SERIES II: Professional Papers
  • Publications
    • Box 1
      "Architects J. Nicolet et R. Gourary." Architecture: Urbanisme-Habitation, Jan.-Mar. 1946: 18-19. Print.
      French
    • Box 1
      J. -J. Stephane. "Quatre zones pour un grenier." Le Soir 27 Jan.1979. Print.
    • Box 1
      "Union des Femmes Architectes de Belgique affiliee a l'U.I.F.A., ..." Perspectives Mar. 1979: 7-10. Print
      French
    • Box 1
      Danielle Leroy. "Reflexions sur le Metier de Femme Architecte." Batiment Oct. 1979: 56-58. Print
      French
    • Box 1
      Marianne Burton. "Les maisons des femmes architectes." Libelle Jan. 1980: 57-61. Print
      French
    • Box 1
      "Dialogue/Gresprek." Decors 1981: 82-83. Print.
      French
    • Box 1
      Diane de Clopper. "Wij bouwen net zo goed als de mannen." Panorama May 1981: 20-21. Print.
      Dutch
    • Box 1
      "Dita Roque-Gourary specialiste en restauration/ Dita Roque-Gourary specialiste in vernieuwbouw." Bati Deco/Deco Bouw Apr. 1981: 52-59. Print.
      French
    • Box 1
      Roger Lecut. "Plus de 400 Femmes Architectes en Belgique." G Magazine 1982: 18-19. Print.
      French
    • Box 1
      Various Article Referencing Women Architects
  • Box 1
    1st Response to Licensure Application in Belgium, 1941
  • Box 1
    Professional Correspondence, 1946
    English
  • Box 1
    Account Ledger, 1952-1970
  • Box 1
    Conference Program, Union Internationale Des Femmes Architectes Exposent, 1978
  • Box 1
    Public Speeches, 1976 and 1982
  • Box 1
    International Archive of Women in Architecture Newsletter [Fall 2002] includes personal correspondence with Milka Bliznakov, 2002
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SERIES III: Project Records
Scope and Content

Project/Client Name (location, date, project type) Collaborator (role) [Format - Ms=Manuscripts, Dr=Drawings, Ph=Photographs]

  • Box 1
    Michelin Tire, Rue Gustave Gibon (Zuen, Belgium, 1947, Commercial) Collaborator Jean Nicolet [Dr]
  • Box 1
    J.B. de Mol. Mrs. J.B. de Mol Residence (St. Gilles, Belgium, 1947 Residence) Collaborator Jean Nicolet [Dr]
  • Box 1
    Box 10
    J.B. Decant, J.B. Decant Residence (Waterloo, Belgium, 1947 Residence) Collaborator Jean Nicolet [Dr]
  • Box 1
    Mr. and Mrs. Gaullet, Project of a Semi-Detached House (Wasmuel, Belgium, 1949 Residence) Collaborator Jean Nicolet [Dr]
  • Box 5
    Box 1
    Mr. and Mrs. G. Van Den Hecke, Van Den Hecke Residence (Brussels, Belgium, 1950 Residence [Dr]
  • Box 1
    Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Godfriaux, Transformation of Store on Adolphe Maxiaan Street (Brussels, Belgium, 1952 Commercial) [Dr]
  • Box 1
    Mr. and Mrs. J. de Ridder, Remodel of Office (Brussels, Belgium, 1954 Commercial) [Dr]
  • Box 1
    Design for Israel Fair in Brussels (Brussels, Belgium, 1954 Commercial); Photographer unknown [Dr,Ph]
  • Box 1
    Mrs. Wulliger, Villa Construction (Schaerbeek, Belgium, 1954 Residence) [Ms, Dr]
  • Box 1
    Box 7
    Box 8
    Mr. and Mrs. J Brysz, Brysz Residence (Brussels, Belgium 1955 Residence) [Ms, Dr]
  • Box 1
    Ms. Zmigrod, Zmigrod Residence/Investment Property (Brussels, Belgium 1956 Residence) [Ms, Dr]
  • Box 6
    Box 2
    Mr. and Mrs. Ch. Perelman, Perelman Residence (Brussels, Belgium 1950-1970 Residence) [Ms, Dr, Ph]
  • Box 4
    Apartment Remodel Rue Faider, n.d.
  • Box 3
    Avery Residence, (n.d.)
  • Box 2
    Ms. Fourvel, Fourvel Pavillion (n.d. Residential) [Dr]
  • Box 2
    Ms. Fuss, Door Mantle Design Detail (n.d.) [Dr]
  • Box 2
    Hirsh Department Store (Brussels, Belgium, n.d. Commercial) [Dr]
  • Box 2
    Modification of an Old Mansion (Brussels, Belgium n.d. Residential) [Dr, Ph]
  • Box 9
    Project d'un Centre Hotelier et d'Habitation (n.d.) [Dr]
  • Box 2
    Project of a Hotel and Residential Center (n.d) [Dr]
  • Box 2
    Project of Houses for the Michelin Society of Zuen (Zuen, Belgium n.d. Residential) [Dr]
  • Box 2
    Project to Realize Removable Housing (Ardennes, France n.d. Residential) [Dr]
  • Box 2
    Rassco Settlement (Tel Aviv North, Isreal, n.d. Residential) [Dr]
  • Box 11
    Box 10
    Box 2
    Residence Remodel, Hewitt Bay Park, NY, n.d.
  • Box 2
    Box 9
    Shoham Store Remodel on Ravenstein Street (Brssels, Belgium) [Dr]
  • Box 2
    Transformation and Arrangements in 19th Century Patrician House (Brussles, Belgium, n.d. Residential) [Dr]
  • Box 2
    Unidentified Projects and Details (n.d.) [Dr]
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Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Roque-Gourary, Dita
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