Mary Imrie (August 29, 1918 – April 11, 1988) was a Canadian architect. She was one of the first women in Canada to establish an architectural firm.[2] She is also considered to be Edmonton's first female architect.[3]
Born in Toronto, Ontario to a well-to-do family, Imrie's parents moved to Edmonton, Alberta when she was three years old. Her father was John M. Imrie, an Edmonton newspaper publisher who won a Pulitzer prize.[4][5][6] She first studied architecture at the University of Alberta and then at the University of Toronto, studying under Eric Arthur and graduating in 1944.[7] From 1946-1949, she worked for the city of Edmonton as a draftsman, along with her future partner Jean Wallbridge. While there, the municipality sent both of them to Europe to study post-war reconstruction methods.[8]
In 1950, Imrie and Wallbridge formed a business partnership in Edmonton, working together until 1979, the time of Wallbridge's death. They built mostly homes that were known for their elegant yet modern lines. They were also able to procure several commercial contracts, such as elementary schools and housing for senior citizens.[9]
In 1957, their firm won a Canadian Housing Design Council award. Despite the high caliber of their work, as female architects they had a harder time obtaining larger commissions. Women in that era were often regulated to the less lucrative residential or interior design markets.[10] Imrie and Wallbridge also traveled extensively, visiting several continents, and writing about their experiences for a journal owned by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
Concerning her professional work, Imbrie stated, "It was a grind, in a cold hard world. But I would like to add, it was also satisfying and a lot of fun!"[11] She was a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the Alberta Association of Architects.[12] A travel grant is named after her at The University of Alberta, called the "Mary Louise Imrie Graduate Student Award".[13] Interested by Alberta's natural landscapes, Imrie bequeathed the bulk of her estate to the Parks Venture Fund of Alberta. She donated her home, the "Imrie House", as well as the land located next to the North Saskatchewan River.[3]
References
^"Mary Imrie and Jean Wallbridge fonds". Archives Society of Alberta.
^ ab. aep.alberta.ca. Archived from the original on 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
^Brennan, Elizabeth A.; Clarage, Elizabeth C. (29 March 1999). Who's who of Pulitzer Prize Winners. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN9781573561112 – via Google Books.
^"JOHN ffl. IMRIE, 58, CANADIAN EDITOR; Retired Head of The Edmonton Journal, Who Won Pulitzer Prize for It, Is Dead UPSET ANTI-PRESS LAW A Defeat for Alberta's Social Credit RegimeuHe Had Held Many Important Posts". 20 June 1942 – via NYTimes.com.
^"About Us - Edmonton Journal". www.edmontonjournal.com.
^Goyette, Linda; Roemmich, Carolina Jakeway (1 April 2005). Edmonton in Our Own Words. University of Alberta. ISBN9780888644497 – via Google Books.
^"Jean Louise Emberly Wallbridge & Mary Louise Imrie". 30 March 2016.
^Burgess, Cecil Scott (29 March 2018). Architecture, Town Planning and Community: Selected Writings and Public Talks by Cecil Burgess, 1909-1946. University of Alberta. ISBN9780888644558 – via Google Books.
^Grierson, Joan (31 March 2008). For the Record: The First Women in Canadian Architecture. Dundurn. ISBN9781770706415 – via Google Books.
^"Canadian Women Artists History Initiative : Artist Database : Artists : IMRIE, Mary". cwahi.concordia.ca.
^. www.ualberta.ca. Archived from the original on 2019-10-26. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
External links
Mary Imrie and Jean Wallbridge fonds
January 07, 2023
mary, imrie, august, 1918, april, 1988, canadian, architect, first, women, canada, establish, architectural, firm, also, considered, edmonton, first, female, architect, born, 1918, august, 1918toronto, ontario, canadadiedapril, 1988, 1988, aged, edmonton, albe. Mary Imrie August 29 1918 April 11 1988 was a Canadian architect She was one of the first women in Canada to establish an architectural firm 2 She is also considered to be Edmonton s first female architect 3 Mary ImrieBorn 1918 08 29 August 29 1918Toronto Ontario CanadaDiedApril 11 1988 1988 04 11 aged 69 Edmonton Alberta CanadaNationalityCanadianOccupationArchitectKnown forResidential projects during Edmonton s post war construction boomPartnerJean Wallbridge 1 Biography EditBorn in Toronto Ontario to a well to do family Imrie s parents moved to Edmonton Alberta when she was three years old Her father was John M Imrie an Edmonton newspaper publisher who won a Pulitzer prize 4 5 6 She first studied architecture at the University of Alberta and then at the University of Toronto studying under Eric Arthur and graduating in 1944 7 From 1946 1949 she worked for the city of Edmonton as a draftsman along with her future partner Jean Wallbridge While there the municipality sent both of them to Europe to study post war reconstruction methods 8 In 1950 Imrie and Wallbridge formed a business partnership in Edmonton working together until 1979 the time of Wallbridge s death They built mostly homes that were known for their elegant yet modern lines They were also able to procure several commercial contracts such as elementary schools and housing for senior citizens 9 In 1957 their firm won a Canadian Housing Design Council award Despite the high caliber of their work as female architects they had a harder time obtaining larger commissions Women in that era were often regulated to the less lucrative residential or interior design markets 10 Imrie and Wallbridge also traveled extensively visiting several continents and writing about their experiences for a journal owned by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Concerning her professional work Imbrie stated It was a grind in a cold hard world But I would like to add it was also satisfying and a lot of fun 11 She was a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the Alberta Association of Architects 12 A travel grant is named after her at The University of Alberta called the Mary Louise Imrie Graduate Student Award 13 Interested by Alberta s natural landscapes Imrie bequeathed the bulk of her estate to the Parks Venture Fund of Alberta She donated her home the Imrie House as well as the land located next to the North Saskatchewan River 3 References Edit Mary Imrie and Jean Wallbridge fonds Archives Society of Alberta Dominey Erna Wallbridge and Imrie a b Imrie House AEP Environment and Parks aep alberta ca Archived from the original on 2019 10 28 Retrieved 2018 03 29 Brennan Elizabeth A Clarage Elizabeth C 29 March 1999 Who s who of Pulitzer Prize Winners Greenwood Publishing Group ISBN 9781573561112 via Google Books JOHN ffl IMRIE 58 CANADIAN EDITOR Retired Head of The Edmonton Journal Who Won Pulitzer Prize for It Is Dead UPSET ANTI PRESS LAW A Defeat for Alberta s Social Credit RegimeuHe Had Held Many Important Posts 20 June 1942 via NYTimes com About Us Edmonton Journal www edmontonjournal com Wallbridge amp Imrie at The Canadian Encyclopedia accessed September 4 2019 Goyette Linda Roemmich Carolina Jakeway 1 April 2005 Edmonton in Our Own Words University of Alberta ISBN 9780888644497 via Google Books Jean Louise Emberly Wallbridge amp Mary Louise Imrie 30 March 2016 Burgess Cecil Scott 29 March 2018 Architecture Town Planning and Community Selected Writings and Public Talks by Cecil Burgess 1909 1946 University of Alberta ISBN 9780888644558 via Google Books Grierson Joan 31 March 2008 For the Record The First Women in Canadian Architecture Dundurn ISBN 9781770706415 via Google Books Canadian Women Artists History Initiative Artist Database Artists IMRIE Mary cwahi concordia ca Graduate travel support fund Faculty of Education www ualberta ca Archived from the original on 2019 10 26 Retrieved 2018 03 29 External links EditMary Imrie and Jean Wallbridge fonds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Imrie amp oldid 1107225594, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
