Anna Keichline facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anna Wagner Keichline
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Keichline in 1903
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| Born | May 24, 1889 Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | February 5, 1943 (aged 53) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Cornell University, Pennsylvania State College |
| Occupation | Architect |
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Pennsylvania Historical Marker
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| Designated | October 12, 2002 |
| Location | Bellefonte |
Anna Wagner Keichline (born May 24, 1889 – died February 5, 1943) was an amazing American woman. She was an architect, an inventor, and even worked as a special agent during World War I. Anna was the very first woman to officially become a registered architect in Pennsylvania. She was also one of the first women to work as a professional architect anywhere! She invented many things and was given seven patents for her ideas. One of her most famous inventions was a special kind of brick.
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Anna's Early Life
Anna Keichline was the youngest of four children. She was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Her father, John Keichline, was a lawyer. Anna's parents gave her a workshop and tools for carpentry. She loved using them to build furniture.
When she was 14, in 1903, she won a prize for a table and chest she made. Her work was so good that people said it was like a "skilled mechanic" made it! Anna told a newspaper that she wanted to spend her life designing things for industry.
She finished Bellefonte High School in 1906. Then, she studied mechanical engineering at Pennsylvania State College. She was the only woman in her class! After a year, she moved to Cornell University. She graduated in 1911, becoming only the fifth woman to get an architecture degree from Cornell. At Cornell, she played basketball, was a class officer, and joined a sorority and drama club.
Anna knew it was hard for women in architecture because it was mostly men. But she didn't give up! She believed women could be just as good at architecture. She thought women had a natural understanding of how to use space in a home.
Anna's Clever Inventions
Anna Keichline became well-known for designing things that saved time and made tasks easier. This was especially true for kitchens and home interiors. She held seven patents for her inventions.
Many of her inventions were for home use. Her most famous invention was the "K Brick" in 1927. This was a hollow brick made of clay. It was lighter and cheaper than other bricks used before. It was an early version of the concrete blocks we see in buildings today. Because of this invention, she received honors from the American Ceramic Society in 1931.
Her very first patent was for a sink that also worked as a washtub. She wanted to save space in kitchens and make them more comfortable. In 1924, she got a patent for one of her kitchen designs. This kitchen had an oven with a special cooker on each side. Her design focused on making kitchens comfortable, convenient, efficient, and space-saving. It even had sloped countertops and cabinets with glass doors.
In 1929, she received a patent for an apartment bed design. This bed could be folded up into the wall to save space in small apartments.
Her most famous invention, the K Brick, led to the development of the modern concrete block. She patented it in 1927. The K Brick was made of clay and used for building hollow walls. It was a cheap, light, and fireproof brick. You could even fill it with material to keep sound or heat out. Anna said her K Brick "requires less to make than brick and because of its design takes less time to fire." She also noted that it would "reduce the weight of the wall by one-half."
Anna's Patents
Here are some of the inventions Anna Keichline received patents for:
- Sink for Apartments (1912)
- Toy (1916)
- Components for Kitchen Construction (1926)
- K Brick (1927)
- Child's Portable Partition (1927)
- Folding Bed for Apartments (1929)
- Air System (1931)
Anna's Architecture Work
Throughout her career, Anna designed buildings and homes in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Washington, D.C. In 2002, she was honored with an official state historical marker in Pennsylvania. This marker was placed in front of the Plaza Theater in Bellefonte, which she designed in 1925.
Anna's great-niece, Nancy Perkins, followed in her footsteps. Nancy started her own industrial design company. You can still see Anna Keichline's designs in towns like Bellefonte, Mill Hall, Centre Hall, Huntingdon, and Mount Union, Pennsylvania. She designed the Plaza Theatre, the Cadillac Garage and Apartments, the Harvey Apartments, and many homes in Bellefonte.
Anna's Personal Life
Anna Keichline owned her own car, which was unusual for women at that time. She was also involved in World War I efforts. She worked as a "special agent with military intelligence." This meant she helped with important information gathering during the war.
She was also a delegate for President Hoover's Better Housing Conference. This conference aimed to improve homes for people. On July 4, 1913, Anna led a march in Bellefonte for Suffragists. Suffragists were people who believed women should have the right to vote. This march was part of protests happening all over the country.
Anna's World War I Role
During World War I, Anna Keichline worked as a Special Agent in the Military Intelligence Division in Washington D.C. She was 28 years old and physically strong. She also knew how to drive and take care of a car. She earned a good salary for her work. Her superiors sent her letters praising the quality of her service.
Anna's Legacy
Anna Keichline passed away in 1943. Some of her papers, including an article she wrote called "Modern Wall Construction" from a 1932 magazine, are kept at the International Archive of Women in Architecture at Virginia Tech. In 2002, Anna's niece, Nancy Perkins, gave more of Anna's collection to the IAWA. This included a CD-ROM that tells the story of Anna's life and achievements.
See also
In Spanish: Anna Keichline para niños
