Cary Millholland Parker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cary Millholland Parker
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Cary B. Millholland, from the 1924 Wellesley College yearbook
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Cary Blunt Millholland
December 11, 1902 Cumberland, Maryland, United States
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| Died | January 21, 2001 (aged 98) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Wellesley College Cambridge School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | Newton Belmont Parker |
| Parent(s) | James Allaire Harriet Woodward Millholland |
| Awards | Fellow, American Society of Landscape Architects Medal of Merit, Garden Club of America |
| Buildings | The Octagon House |
Cary Millholland Parker (1902–2001) was a talented American landscape architect. She was known for designing beautiful outdoor spaces, including gardens and plazas. She worked on many projects in Washington, D.C., and other places.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Cary Blunt Millholland was born in Cumberland, Maryland, on December 11, 1902. She was one of five children in her family. She loved to learn and explore.
School Days and Travel
Cary graduated from Wellesley College in 1924. After college, she traveled a lot. She explored countries in Europe and East Asia. Her trips to Asia made her very interested in trees. She learned how important trees are in landscape design.
Later, she decided to study landscape architecture. She joined the program at the Cambridge School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. She finished her studies there in 1934.
Family Life
In 1954, Cary married Newton Belmont Parker. They shared many years together. Newton passed away in 1993. Cary Millholland Parker died on January 21, 2001.
Designing Landscapes
After finishing her landscape architecture degree, Cary worked in different places. She gained experience with other famous designers. These included Ellen Shipman and Rose Greely.
Starting Her Own Business
In 1937, Cary opened her own design business. It was located in Washington, D.C. She ran her own company for five years. She also did freelance work for other firms. This helped her gain even more experience.
Working During World War II
During World War II, Cary helped her country. She worked for the United States Department of War. She started as a draftsperson, drawing maps and plans. Later, she helped create special relief maps. These maps were used by the Office of Strategic Services.
After the war ended, she reopened her design business. She continued her work until 1975.
Life Abroad and Teaching
In the 1950s, Cary lived in Central America. Her husband was stationed there for his work. She lived in Nicaragua and Guatemala. While there, she enjoyed collecting orchids.
When they returned to the United States, Cary shared her knowledge. She taught at the Catholic University of America. She taught there from 1960 to 1963.
Famous Projects
Cary Parker designed many important places. Some of her notable projects include:
- The central plaza at St. John’s College in Maryland.
- The beautiful grounds of The Octagon House in Washington, D.C.
- Parts of Point Farm in Calvert County, Maryland. This area is now the Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum.
She also created a garden plan for U.S. Secretary of State Christian Herter. Later, she worked with First Lady Lady Bird Johnson. They worked together on projects to make Washington, D.C., more beautiful.
Awards and Recognition
Cary Parker was very active in her field. She was a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). She held several leadership roles in the ASLA. In 1965, she was honored as a fellow of the ASLA. This is a very high honor.
She was also a member of the Society of Woman Geographers (SWG). The Garden Club of America gave her their Medal of Merit. This award recognized her excellent work.
In 1993, the Society of Woman Geographers interviewed Cary. This interview was part of a project to record important stories. Her story is kept in the SWG archives.
