New-York tribune., 1901-08-26
OCCUPATIONS OF WOMEN.
WHAT THE FIELD OF ARCHITECTURE
OFFERS TO THE WELL TRAINED,
PRACTICAL WOMAN.


THAT the profession OF architecture is erninently
suited TO women has long been admitted. and they
,,e entering il in constantly increasing numbers.
vel the proportion is much smaller than it ought 10
be" said q successful woman architect yesterday
There Is nothing in architecture that a woman
cannot DO as well II she viii ht herself
Cor the work in the same way. She must learn
something OF mathematics and mechanics II she
would succeed in reaching the highest level for the
architect must know not merely how 10 make an
effective design but how 10 carry IL out a special
course IN these studies should precede the study or
design The widest training in art is not wasted on
an architect. Some OF the best are those who
studied for painting and afterward took up archi-
lecture. Women are now admitted 10 the 'Beaux
Arts IN Paris and the Royal Academy School in
London The Massachusetts Institute OF Tech
nology has been open them for years, and Massa-
ohusetts consequently is said 20 have more women
architects than any other State.
1T must be obvious that women have more IN
innate knowledge OF the requirements OF home
than men usually have. They know Of necessity
why bedrooms should be properly parttioned, not
merely divided by portieres. which leave the oc-
cupant OF each room al the mercy Of every trihing
noise in the other. Their personal experience
teaches them that fully one-half OF the comfort OF
q house or apartment depends upon the closet
room. They would never think OF building a small
apartment house in such way that butcher and
baker and candlestick maker must carry their
But It is not alone in home building that
proves herself competent. Miss Josephine W. Chap
man, Of Boston, the architect OF the New-England
Building in Buffalo. designed Craigie Hall, the
largest dormitory at Harvard University and its
swimming tanks which are connected with the
building by a subway. She has also built stone
church in the little town Of Leominster, Mass, and
e clubhouse in Worcester, besides several large
steel freproof business houses.
One Of the first women in this country to adopt
the profession was Mrs. Louise B. Bethune. OF
Buffalo, who has been practising since 1881, and IS
the only woman yet admitted 10 membership in
the American Institute OF Architects.
Miss Sophia Hayden, whose winning OF the prize
FOR the plan OF the Woman's Building at the Chi
Sago Worlds Fair brought her into general notice
at the Massachusetts, Institute Of Technology and
ness soon after her entrance upon her profession
e0peeo & a ner 20 reilngnisa l MRen she Teeoy
and did not resume her work.
the second prize OF $500 in the same competition,
is now successful architect in that city. her
speciality being country houses.
A young woman now studying says that she
accepted the profession al the chance suggestion Of
home as a wedding present
MY friend told me Of her experience" she ex-
plains, and that gave me the idea. When the ar
bdSst Sheet brought p the plans for her she
the eiosets He pointed them q He oat and she ssid M
Ihey VIII not DO al all ! want hail and closets
,oo olg an. ana nght-and you may drop the drawing
- Then she went the plans with him in detail
added 70 the buffers pantry Two feet each were re
taken from the drawing room which one
soc OF the hall, and from the sitting room, the
ulef ana given 10 the square hall On each side or
was not oistinguishable from the remainder OF
the old oak wainscotnR that finished the hail. yet
was useful for variety OF things.
Upstairs two sleeping rooms were robbed relent-
ssessly OF unnecessary width 10 gain space for
large linen closet with window narrow drawers
ana shelves sufficient to accommodate all the
A0Usenoio linen without crowding In IL placed
large square chute through which all soed
lhen could be precipiated once to the laundry,
IN the basement
Several Innovations were made in the bathrooms.
- 5idss roc was aftXed to the wall back Of the tub
she extending Its full length. This for towels
ano @ Is Ihe best arrangement possible. cabinet
nas puit IN over the basin for all toilet bottles,
nc NAG French plate mirror front Its shelves
any sort
=. ~ Two servants and small room TO the third all
- me upper story. which left large apartment
GGa ne suggested. would be a good storeroom.
~ ~ friend cid not agree with him, but asked why
he, l sSst room could not be made into two rooms.
nc, ,aet each servant might have a separate one. The
@ .sAt N size might be divided into an ample store
'oo.n ~, ana bathroom for the maids she thought
80 these alterations were made before the plan
80 =. ~ 1lly put into execution and the architect
@.u 80 70 my friend: Really. Miss s. If you Were
sssouns man i would ask you 10 come into nv
oa.ee ..e 70 study architecture
-rls sls Ieplled' II I were a young man I should
"a s@oeDlg @ nave mans idea OF a house so could be
~ no use 70 you. What you want IN your Office Is
"a young woman give you points about the little
ss S,a1s tnat men know nothing about in a practical
clrs.s saho when my friend told me that" con-
stesS .. he h, stuaent j made up my mind that in
t.otuses t that nobody wanted would be an archf.
sao ouild lovely houses full OF unimagnabIe
O''s tlat everybody would sigh fort"