Eleanor Manning O'Connor (June 27, 1884 – July 12, 1973) was an American architect and educator passionate about the creation of decent public housing for all.
Eleanor Manning O'Connor was born in 1884 to parents, Delia Josephine Grady and James Manning, a building contractor in Lynn, Massachusetts.[1] Her Father, James Manning, was the son of Irish immigrants John Manning and Ellen Horgan.[2] Eleanor attended Lynn Classical High School and received an S.B. degree in architecture in 1906. Her thesis was entitled "Design for a Country Residence."[3] She served as the president of Cleofan, MIT's club for women in her senior year.[4]
Architectural practiceedit
Two years after graduation, O'Connor accepted a position as a draftsman with another architect and MIT graduate, Lois Lilley Howe. In 1912, she took an extended leave of absence and traveled in Europe with her associate and classmate Eliza J. Newkirk Rogers, creating watercolors of the buildings she observed.[5] She cut short the trip to accept an offer of partnership from Howe and joined the firm calling themselves Howe and Manning, America's fourth firm of female architects, later Howe, Manning & Almy, Inc.[6] The firm frequently worked on remodeling and renovating outdated structures and O'Connor coined the term "renovising" to describe their work.[7]
During this period one of her major works was a commission from WPA for low-cost housing in an Irish neighborhood in South Boston called the Old Harbor Housing Project, constructed 1933-1938. She worked with other architects in a collaboration known as the Seventeen Associated Architects.[8] This project, consisting of three story apartments and two story townhouses was distinguished for its residential appeal as compared to the sterile atmosphere of most public housing.[9] Biographer Doris Cole [10] says that O'Connor was the partner most concerned about social issues and her concerns reflected the detailing, choice of materials and attention to proportion that contribute to the appeal of the project.[11] Subsequently, O'Connor served on numerous housing commissions and councils at the city, state and national levels.[12]
Educatoredit
After WWI, O'Connor began lecturing at Simmons College as a Special Instructor of Architecture and later of Housing, a position that she held for 50 years .[13] During the 1930s she also taught at Pine Manor Junior College, Chamberlain School for Retailing, and Garland College.[14] She lectured frequently in the New England area on housing throughout her career.[15]
Collaboration with Johnson O'Connoredit
In 1931, Eleanor Manning married the American psychometrician, researcher, and educator Johnson O'Connor, founder of the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation. At the foundation, she championed the causes of women and encouraged women to enter into the fields of engineering, medicines and science.[16]
O'Connor died in Mexico in 1973[17] while researching Indian cultures and is buried beside her husband in Newport Beach, California. She was survived by O'Connor's engineer son, Chadwell O'Connor.
Writingsedit
Eleanor Manning, "Architecture as a Profession for Women", "Simmons Review", Simmons College, April 1934, 71-75
Eleanor Manning, "Buildings for the National Welfare", National Altrusan, March 1935.
^Boston Globe, "Eleanor O'Connor, architect and teacher", July 13, 1973.
Referencesedit
Sarah Allaback, "The First American Women Architects", University of Illinois Press, 2008, (ISBN0252033213)
Doris Cole; Karen Cord Taylor; Sylvia Moore, "The lady architects : Lois Lilley Howe, Eleanor Manning, and Mary Almy : 1893-1937", Midmarch Arts Press, 1990, (ISBN1877675016)
Boston Globe, "Eleanor O'Connor, architect and teacher", July 13, 1973.
MIT Institute Archives and Special Collections, Manuscript Collection MC 9.
Wyatt, George. "Johnson O'Connor: A Portrait From Memory", EPM Publications, Inc., 2002.
External linksedit
Watercolors by Eleanor Manning O'Connor 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation
April 12, 2024
eleanor, manning, connor, australian, army, officer, eleanor, manning, june, 1884, july, 1973, american, architect, educator, passionate, about, creation, decent, public, housing, born, 1884, june, 1884lynn, massachusettsdiedjuly, 1973, 1973, aged, mexico, cit. For the Australian army officer see Eleanor Manning Eleanor Manning O Connor June 27 1884 July 12 1973 was an American architect and educator passionate about the creation of decent public housing for all Eleanor Manning O ConnorBorn 1884 06 27 June 27 1884Lynn MassachusettsDiedJuly 12 1973 1973 07 12 aged 89 Mexico CityNationalityAmericanOccupationArchitectParent s Delia Josephine GradyJames ManningProjectsOld Harbor Housing Project Village of Mariemont Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Architectural practice 3 Educator 4 Collaboration with Johnson O Connor 5 Writings 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksEarly life and education editEleanor Manning O Connor was born in 1884 to parents Delia Josephine Grady and James Manning a building contractor in Lynn Massachusetts 1 Her Father James Manning was the son of Irish immigrants John Manning and Ellen Horgan 2 Eleanor attended Lynn Classical High School and received an S B degree in architecture in 1906 Her thesis was entitled Design for a Country Residence 3 She served as the president of Cleofan MIT s club for women in her senior year 4 Architectural practice editTwo years after graduation O Connor accepted a position as a draftsman with another architect and MIT graduate Lois Lilley Howe In 1912 she took an extended leave of absence and traveled in Europe with her associate and classmate Eliza J Newkirk Rogers creating watercolors of the buildings she observed 5 She cut short the trip to accept an offer of partnership from Howe and joined the firm calling themselves Howe and Manning America s fourth firm of female architects later Howe Manning amp Almy Inc 6 The firm frequently worked on remodeling and renovating outdated structures and O Connor coined the term renovising to describe their work 7 In the 1920s O Connor worked with Lois Howe and other architects on the Village of Mariemont a planned community in Hamilton County Ohio During this period one of her major works was a commission from WPA for low cost housing in an Irish neighborhood in South Boston called the Old Harbor Housing Project constructed 1933 1938 She worked with other architects in a collaboration known as the Seventeen Associated Architects 8 This project consisting of three story apartments and two story townhouses was distinguished for its residential appeal as compared to the sterile atmosphere of most public housing 9 Biographer Doris Cole 10 says that O Connor was the partner most concerned about social issues and her concerns reflected the detailing choice of materials and attention to proportion that contribute to the appeal of the project 11 Subsequently O Connor served on numerous housing commissions and councils at the city state and national levels 12 Educator editAfter WWI O Connor began lecturing at Simmons College as a Special Instructor of Architecture and later of Housing a position that she held for 50 years 13 During the 1930s she also taught at Pine Manor Junior College Chamberlain School for Retailing and Garland College 14 She lectured frequently in the New England area on housing throughout her career 15 Collaboration with Johnson O Connor editIn 1931 Eleanor Manning married the American psychometrician researcher and educator Johnson O Connor founder of the Johnson O Connor Research Foundation At the foundation she championed the causes of women and encouraged women to enter into the fields of engineering medicines and science 16 O Connor died in Mexico in 1973 17 while researching Indian cultures and is buried beside her husband in Newport Beach California She was survived by O Connor s engineer son Chadwell O Connor Writings editEleanor Manning Architecture as a Profession for Women Simmons Review Simmons College April 1934 71 75 Eleanor Manning Buildings for the National Welfare National Altrusan March 1935 See also editHowe Manning amp Almy Inc Notes edit MIT p 6 https scontent fcae1 1 fna fbcdn net v t39 30808 6 352228012 10230693360821665 6358198763619328451 n jpg nc cat 104 amp ccb 1 7 amp nc sid 5cd70e amp nc ohc mku7MN2nb3oAX95K B5 amp nc ht scontent fcae1 1 fna amp oh 00 AfBNTliIGInuncGQCijPitQgfLRPVTJLL 0I9bj2b9Wr7A amp oe 6497411A MIT 1906 Senior Portfolio p 30 Sparrell Print Boston Guide to the Records of Howe Manning amp Almy Inc and the Papers of Lois Lilley Howe Eleanor Manning O Connor and Mary Almy MC 0009 libraries mit edu Archived from the original on 2019 07 01 Retrieved 2017 09 30 MIT p 6 Allaback 2008 p 130 Allaback 2008 p 130 MIT p 7 Allaback 2008 p 131 Cole 1990 Allaback 2008 p 131 MIT p 7 MIT p 7 MIT p 7 MIT p 7 Wyatt 2002 Boston Globe Eleanor O Connor architect and teacher July 13 1973 References editSarah Allaback The First American Women Architects University of Illinois Press 2008 ISBN 0252033213 Doris Cole Karen Cord Taylor Sylvia Moore The lady architects Lois Lilley Howe Eleanor Manning and Mary Almy 1893 1937 Midmarch Arts Press 1990 ISBN 1877675016 Boston Globe Eleanor O Connor architect and teacher July 13 1973 MIT Institute Archives and Special Collections Manuscript Collection MC 9 Wyatt George Johnson O Connor A Portrait From Memory EPM Publications Inc 2002 External links editWatercolors by Eleanor Manning O Connor Archived 2016 03 05 at the Wayback Machine Johnson O Connor A Portrait From Memory Johnson O Connor Research Foundation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eleanor Manning O 27Connor amp oldid 1211194183, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
