Josephine Wright Chapman (1867–1943) was a pioneering woman architect, one of fewer than 100 practicing nationally in the first half of the 20th century. She was also the first woman architect "in the history of American architecture to start and head her very own firm,"[1][2] which she accomplished at the tail end of the 19th century.[3] Practicing both in Boston and New York, she got her start as an apprentice in the prestigious Blackall, Clapp and Whittemore firm. Her first practice opened in 1897 in Grundmann Studios, a Boston-based women's art collective. A member of the New York Society of Architects, and one of only 70 female architects in the United States at the time,[3] she was refused admission by both the American Institute of Architects and the Boston Architectural Club on the basis of her gender.[1] Nonetheless, her repertoire soon included "churches, clubs, libraries, and apartments, as well as the Women’s Clubs in Lynn and Worcester, Massachusetts."[4] Chapman's second practice was founded in New York, and that's when her career really took off,"[a]s confirmed by The Ladies’ Home Journal, which noted her popularity: “You can find her [Chapman’s] work everywhere in the environs of New York…”[3]
Chapman's architectural education began in 1892 when Clarence Blackall agreed to let her apprentice under him.[5] Blackall taught her about public building design and how to experiment with new materials. In 1893, the firm designed the first steel-frame building, the Winthrop Building in Boston.
Chapman would go on to set up her own firm in Boston, in Grundmann Studios, a women's art collective, in 1897.[6] "The commission that made her reputation would be the New England Building at the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. She began design work on it as soon as the announcement of the contest for the building appeared in the papers."[3] That set the stage for all of her future success.
Chapman was commissioned by Harvard University to design their Craigie Arms dormitory. While working on that project she also designed St. Mark's Episcopal in Leominster, Massachusetts.[7] By the start of the 20th century, Chapman had six drafters, including one woman, at her firm.[2]
After 1901, she applied to join the American Institute of Architects and the Boston Architectural Club. Both refused to admit her.[5] In 1907, after relocating to New York City, she was accepted by the New York Society of Architects.[4] There, she opened a firm at Washington Square Park, focusing on residential design.[2] Around 1909 she "reign[ed] supreme as the only woman architect in the Hub."[8]
Harvard's Chapman Arms (formerly Craigie Arms), was renamed for the architect. Built in 1897, in Cambridge, MA, it is now in the National Historic Register.
Chapman was described as "modest, direct, simple," with "ability, energy, and indomitable faith in herself." (Ladies Home Journal, October 1914).[3] Raised in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Chapman was one of four daughters to Mary E. Wright and James Levi Chapman, the president of the Fitchburg Machine Works.[5] Miss Chapman retired in 1925 and moved to Paris. She later went to England, where her London home was destroyed in the aerial blitz of 1940. She then moved to Bradford-on-Avon.
^ abcSarah Allaback (May 23, 2008). The first American women architects. University of Illinois Press. p. 60. ISBN978-0-252-03321-6. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
^ abcde"Pan American Exposition Buffalo 1901". panam1901.org. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
^ abShe plans fine houses. Ottawa Free Trader, April 19, 1901
^ abcd"Josephine Wright Chapman". Freedom's Way National Heritage Area. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
^Habitats/Douglas Manor; Rustic Queens Hideaway. The New York Times, August 14, 1994
^. Archived from the original on January 8, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
Further readingedit
Chapman. How to Decorate Your Home. Success. June 1904.
Chapman. Pretty Wall Coverings. Success. May 1905.
Chapman. Home Furnishings and Decorations. Success, June 1905.
Chapman. Letter to the editor. New York Times, September 8, 1914.
Sarah Allaback. The First American Women Architects. University of Illinois Press, 2008. ISBN978-0-252-03321-6
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Josephine Wright Chapman.
WorldCat. Chapman, Josephine Wright
Google news archive. Articles about Chapman
Flickr. Tuckerman Hall, Worcester, 2008
Flickr. Tuckerman Hall, Worcester
Pan-American Exposition of 1901, Buffalo NY.
May 03, 2024
josephine, wright, chapman, 1867, 1943, pioneering, woman, architect, fewer, than, practicing, nationally, first, half, 20th, century, also, first, woman, architect, history, american, architecture, start, head, very, firm, which, accomplished, tail, 19th, cen. Josephine Wright Chapman 1867 1943 was a pioneering woman architect one of fewer than 100 practicing nationally in the first half of the 20th century She was also the first woman architect in the history of American architecture to start and head her very own firm 1 2 which she accomplished at the tail end of the 19th century 3 Practicing both in Boston and New York she got her start as an apprentice in the prestigious Blackall Clapp and Whittemore firm Her first practice opened in 1897 in Grundmann Studios a Boston based women s art collective A member of the New York Society of Architects and one of only 70 female architects in the United States at the time 3 she was refused admission by both the American Institute of Architects and the Boston Architectural Club on the basis of her gender 1 Nonetheless her repertoire soon included churches clubs libraries and apartments as well as the Women s Clubs in Lynn and Worcester Massachusetts 4 Chapman s second practice was founded in New York and that s when her career really took off a s confirmed by The Ladies Home Journal which noted her popularity You can find her Chapman s work everywhere in the environs of New York 3 Josephine Wright Chapman1901 portrait of Josephine Wright Chapman Born1867Died1943Alma materBlackall Clapp and Whittemore apprenticeshipOccupationArchitectAwards1901 Pan American Exposition New England building awardPracticeOwn practice in Boston and New YorkBuildingsFour of Chapman s buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places Four of Chapman s buildings are now in the National Register of Historic Places Boston s steel framed Winthrop Building Harvard s Craigie Arms since renamed for Chapman Worcester s Tuckerman Hall and Washington D C s Hillandale built for the heiress to Standard Oil in 1923 1 5 Contents 1 Career 2 Gallery 3 Designs 4 Personal 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksCareer editChapman s architectural education began in 1892 when Clarence Blackall agreed to let her apprentice under him 5 Blackall taught her about public building design and how to experiment with new materials In 1893 the firm designed the first steel frame building the Winthrop Building in Boston Chapman would go on to set up her own firm in Boston in Grundmann Studios a women s art collective in 1897 6 The commission that made her reputation would be the New England Building at the 1901 Pan American Exposition She began design work on it as soon as the announcement of the contest for the building appeared in the papers 3 That set the stage for all of her future success Chapman was commissioned by Harvard University to design their Craigie Arms dormitory While working on that project she also designed St Mark s Episcopal in Leominster Massachusetts 7 By the start of the 20th century Chapman had six drafters including one woman at her firm 2 After 1901 she applied to join the American Institute of Architects and the Boston Architectural Club Both refused to admit her 5 In 1907 after relocating to New York City she was accepted by the New York Society of Architects 4 There she opened a firm at Washington Square Park focusing on residential design 2 Around 1909 she reign ed supreme as the only woman architect in the Hub 8 Gallery edit Selection was limited by availability nbsp Chapman helped designed Boston s Winthrop Building the first built with a steel frame while at Blackall Clapp and Whittemore in 1893 It is now in the National Historic Register nbsp Harvard s Chapman Arms formerly Craigie Arms was renamed for the architect Built in 1897 in Cambridge MA it is now in the National Historic Register nbsp Worcester Woman s Club Tuckerman Hall Worcester MA 1902 is now in the National Historic Register nbsp New Century Building Huntington Ave Boston c 1903 nbsp Boston s New Century Building interior nbsp Boston s New Century Building interior Designs editCraigie Hall Craigie Arms Harvard University Cambridge Massachusetts 1897 9 All Saints Episcopal church Attleboro Mass c 1900 10 Episcopal church Leominster Mass c 1900 11 New England Building Pan American Exposition Buffalo New York 1901 12 Worcester Woman s Club Tuckerman Hall Worcester Mass 1902 13 New Century Building Huntington Ave Boston c 1903 14 15 Hillandale Georgetown Washington DC 1922 16 Houses Douglas Manor Queens NY c 1916 17 18 Personal editChapman was described as modest direct simple with ability energy and indomitable faith in herself Ladies Home Journal October 1914 3 Raised in Fitchburg Massachusetts Chapman was one of four daughters to Mary E Wright and James Levi Chapman the president of the Fitchburg Machine Works 5 Miss Chapman retired in 1925 and moved to Paris She later went to England where her London home was destroyed in the aerial blitz of 1940 She then moved to Bradford on Avon See also editWomen in architectureReferences edit a b c Chapman Josephine Wright BWAF Dynamic National Archive dna bwaf org Retrieved 2022 03 26 a b c Sarah Allaback May 23 2008 The first American women architects University of Illinois Press p 60 ISBN 978 0 252 03321 6 Retrieved February 5 2012 a b c d e Pan American Exposition Buffalo 1901 panam1901 org Retrieved 2022 03 26 a b She plans fine houses Ottawa Free Trader April 19 1901 a b c d Josephine Wright Chapman Freedom s Way National Heritage Area Retrieved 2022 03 26 Boston Evening Transcript October 23 1897 St Mark s Episcopal Church Freedom s Way National Heritage Area Retrieved 2022 03 26 Some Successful Women Architects Wilkes Barre Times Leader Pennsylvania Date Jan 20 1909 Ottawa Free Trader April 19 1901 She Builds Churches Boston Has Developed a New Sphere of Industry for Women s Effort Biloxi Daily Herald Date Jun 22 1900 Biloxi Daily Herald Date Jun 22 1900 Carpentry and Building April 1901 Tuckerman Hall Helen M Winslow The Boston Women s Club House Delineator 1903 Woman s Club House Corporation Boston Evening Transcript October 23 1897 Hillandale Homeowners Association Habitats Douglas Manor Rustic Queens Hideaway The New York Times August 14 1994 Douglas Manor NY Archived from the original on January 8 2013 Retrieved October 20 2012 Further reading editChapman How to Decorate Your Home Success June 1904 Chapman Pretty Wall Coverings Success May 1905 Chapman Home Furnishings and Decorations Success June 1905 Chapman Letter to the editor New York Times September 8 1914 Sarah Allaback The First American Women Architects University of Illinois Press 2008 ISBN 978 0 252 03321 6External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Josephine Wright Chapman WorldCat Chapman Josephine Wright Google news archive Articles about Chapman Flickr Tuckerman Hall Worcester 2008 Flickr Tuckerman Hall Worcester Pan American Exposition of 1901 Buffalo NY Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Josephine Wright Chapman amp oldid 1193406282, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
