Amy Porter Rapp facts for kids

Amy Katherine Porter Rapp (born December 15, 1908 – died June 19, 2002) was an American architect from Oregon. An architect is someone who designs buildings. Amy mostly designed homes and churches in Portland.

Her Early Life and Education

Amy Rapp was born in Halsey, Oregon. Her parents were Catherine Maude Hopkins and Frank Hailey Porter. Her father, Frank Hailey Porter, was involved in politics and represented Linn County in the Oregon House of Representatives for a few years.

In 1919, Amy's family moved to Portland, Oregon. She graduated from Grant High School in 1927. After high school, she went to the University of Oregon. She studied architecture there and earned her degree in 1931. While at the university, Amy met the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. He would visit and give advice to the students about their projects. Amy was also part of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, a social club for women in college. Another architect, Chloethiel Woodard Smith, was in the same sorority.

Amy married Andrew Lee Rapp in 1931. He passed away in 1996.

Building a Career in Architecture

Amy graduated from college right when the Great Depression started. This was a very tough time when many people lost their jobs and it was hard to find work. Because of this, Amy found it difficult to get a job as an architect. She once said that there were "no jobs at all" for new architects back then. For a while, she helped manage her dad's apartment building.

In 1941, Amy and her husband bought a piece of land. Amy designed their family home herself!

It took about 15 years after she graduated for Amy to really start designing homes. This happened because there wasn't enough money from the government to build new homes for soldiers returning from war. Even without much office experience and with three young children, she began her work. Amy remembered her youngest child tiptoeing around the house, saying, "Shush, Mama is architecting." This made her work even harder, often late into the night, until her children were in school.

Amy also volunteered her time and skills. She led the Building Committee for the First Congregational Church in Portland. She even helped choose the design for the Portland Center for the Performing Arts. She drew plans for new parts of the church, making sure to keep its original stone and brick look. This work helped her learn more about working with clients.

Amy finished her last commissioned home in 1955. After that, she helped her husband with his business, the Green Furniture Hospital. They repaired and refinished furniture, and later started selling old, valuable items.

What She Built

Amy Katherine Porter Rapp designed several projects, including:

• Many single-family homes in Oregon.
• Remodeling work at the First Congregational Church in Great Falls, Montana.
• Basement remodeling at the First Congregational Church in Portland, Oregon.