Agnes Ballard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agnes Ballard
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Ballard in 1920
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| Born | September 14, 1877 |
| Died | November 24, 1969 (aged 92) |
| Occupation | Architect, educator |
| Years active | 1906–1957 |
Agnes Ballard (born September 14, 1877 – died November 24, 1969) was an important American architect and teacher. She made history as the first woman to become a licensed architect in Florida. She was also one of the first women in Florida to join the American Institute of Architects, a group for professional architects.
Beyond her work in design, Agnes Ballard was a dedicated educator. She taught many subjects, including geography, biology, chemistry, Latin, and math. She also became one of the first women in Florida to be elected to a public job. She served as the Superintendent of Public Education for Palm Beach County, Florida for four years.
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Agnes Ballard's Early Life and Education
Agnes Ballard was born in Oxford, Massachusetts, on September 14, 1877. Her parents, Dana L. Ballard and Jane R. Carpenter, were from Vermont. She went to public schools in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Later, she attended Wellesley College in 1902. She then graduated from Worcester Normal School in 1905. This school trained people to become teachers.
Starting Her Teaching Career
After finishing college, Agnes wanted a new challenge. She took a teaching job in Palmer, Michigan. However, she did not like the cold weather there. She said she wanted to go "somewhere where I never would see snow again."
So, in 1906, at age 29, she moved to West Palm Beach, Florida. There, she began teaching geography, biology, and chemistry at Palm Beach High School. In 1908, she moved to a private school nearby. At this school, she taught Latin and mathematics.
She briefly moved north again for a higher salary. She taught in St. Augustine and worked as a private secretary in Wisconsin. But she soon returned to Florida for good. This time, she would not be a teacher.
Becoming an Architect
While she was in Wisconsin, Agnes learned about architecture. She worked as an apprentice at an architectural firm. In 1913, she came back to Florida and kept studying architecture.
In 1914, she received architecture license No. 6 from the State of Florida. This made her the very first woman to be a licensed architect in the state. She was also the first person to get a license after the five members of the licensing board. In 1916, she became only the sixth woman to join the American Institute of Architects.
Agnes started her own architecture business. She used her home as her office and studio. When asked about her projects, she mentioned designing "apartments, residences and hot dog stands." She also became friends with Addison Mizner, a famous architect who designed many grand homes in the area. When Mizner started a local architects' club, Ballard became its secretary.
Leading as Superintendent of Schools
After the 19th Amendment was passed in 1920, women gained the right to vote. Friends encouraged Agnes to run for public office. She decided to run for County Superintendent of Schools. This job oversees all the schools in a county.
Agnes had taught in the school district before. Her six years of architecture experience were also helpful. The school district was growing fast and needed many new schools. Agnes won her election, becoming one of the first women elected to public office in Florida. She started her job on January 4, 1921.
During her time as Superintendent, the school district grew a lot. She was also chosen to lead a committee for civic improvements for architects in Florida. She helped start building a vocational school, which teaches job skills. She was also elected President of the Royal Palm Educational Association. This group connected school districts from three Florida counties.
Agnes was a strong leader, but her time in office had challenges. She wanted to get money to build new schools. However, local voters were not eager to approve the funds. She even suggested buying early versions of portable classrooms. In 1924, she decided not to run for re-election.
Later Career and Retirement
After her term as Superintendent ended, Agnes tried real estate investing. She did well for a while, but then the market had a downturn in 1926. This led her back to teaching and architecture.
She returned to teaching at Conniston Road School. By 1934, she was teaching many subjects at Palm Beach Elementary. These included Latin, algebra, history, English, and civics. She continued her own education during the summers. In 1936, the University of Florida gave her a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education.
In 1947, she retired from teaching after 19 years. She then focused on architecture again. At this time, she had two draftsmen working for her. In 1957, she retired from her architecture business. She ran for school board again at age 80, but she did not win.
Years later, an article shared her forgotten story. In 2016, the Florida chapter of the American Institute of Architects gave her a special award after her death.
Personal Life
Agnes Ballard never married. She had a brother, Willis, and a sister, Ethel. She outlived both of them. Besides English and Latin, she could speak five other languages. These included French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Russian. She also enjoyed singing, playing the organ, and playing chess.
Her friends sometimes called her "Activity" Ballard because she was involved in so many clubs and activities. She also enjoyed traveling. She visited England and Scotland in 1908. In 1926, she took a trip to Europe, seeing Paris and the French Riviera. Later in life, she visited Alaska.
Agnes Ballard passed away on November 24, 1969, in West Palm Beach.
Known Architectural Works
Many of Agnes Ballard's architectural designs no longer exist today. Some of her known works that are still around include:
- 411 26th Street (1951), in the Old Northwood Historic District in West Palm Beach
- Palm Beach house (1953), which was updated by sculptor John Raimondi in 1988
- Lund House (1955) at 3410 Poinsettia Ave, West Palm Beach
