Alberta Jeannette Cassell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alberta Jeannette Cassell
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| Born | November 22, 1926 Washington, D.C.
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| Died | October 24, 2007 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Cornell University |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Parent(s) | Albert Cassell |
| Practice | Military Sea Life Command |
Alberta Jeannette Cassell (born November 22, 1926 – died October 24, 2007) was an amazing African American architect. She worked for the U.S. Navy, helping to design important buildings and projects. She was also known as Alberta Jeannette Cassell Butler after she got married.
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Early Life and Learning
Alberta Jeannette Charolette Cassell was born in Washington, D.C. Her father, Albert Cassell, was also a famous architect. Her mother, Martha Ann Mason, was a teacher.
Alberta went to James Monroe Elementary School, Bannecker Junior High, and Dunbar High School. She finished high school in 1944. Her father really wanted all his children to become architects, just like him. He also wanted them to go to his old university, Cornell University.
Alberta followed her father's wishes and went to Cornell University. In 1948, she made history! She became one of the first two African American women to graduate from Cornell's architecture school. The other woman was her sister, Martha Cassell Thompson. In 1947, Alberta was part of a Cornell team that won an award. This was in a big national contest held by the American Institute of Architects.
Her Career as an Architect
After college, Alberta worked for two years at her father's architecture company. She later left when her father started working on real estate projects.
In May 1951, she began a new job. She worked as an architectural engineer for the Naval Research Laboratory. She stayed there until May 1961. Then, she started working as an engineering draftswoman for the Military Sea Life Command.
Later, from 1971 to 1982, she became a naval architect. She worked with the United States Naval Sea Systems Command. Alberta was also a member of the Association of Women Architects. This group was started by Henrietta May Steinmesch.
Her Personal Life
In 1950, Alberta married Francis Butler. He was a mechanical engineer who studied at Howard University. They had two children together: Karl, born in 1951, and Mira, born in 1953.
Alberta retired from her work in 1982 because of a disability. In her retirement, she found new passions. She started writing stories for children. She also spent a lot of time on photography.
Her husband, Francis, passed away in 2004. Alberta herself died in 2007, when she was 80 years old. Her children's book, The Little White Butterflies, was published after she passed away, in 2012.
Images for kids
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Alberta Jeannette Cassell
See Also
In Spanish: Alberta Jeannette Cassell para niños
