Christine Salmon facts for kids

Christine Salmon (born Fahringer, July 22, 1916 – October 10, 1985) was an American architect and teacher. An architect is someone who designs buildings. Christine was born in Pennsylvania. She taught at Pennsylvania State University for ten years. Later, in the late 1950s, she moved to Oklahoma and taught at Oklahoma State University.

Christine and her husband started their own architecture company called Salmon and Salmon. Their main focus was designing homes. They were especially good at creating designs that helped people with disabilities. Christine was also involved in national groups like the American Institute of Architects (AIA). She was even the first woman to be elected mayor of Stillwater, Oklahoma. In 1982, she was honored by being added to the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame.

Her Life and Work

Christine Fahringer was born on July 22, 1916, in Audenried, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Elizabeth and Walter Fahringer. She grew up in Pennsylvania and went to the George School. Christine loved learning and continued her education at the University of Pennsylvania. She earned a bachelor's degree in 1941 and then a master's degree in architecture in 1943.

On April 22, 1946, Christine married another architect named F. Cuthbert Salmon in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. Together, they started their own architecture business, Salmon and Salmon. That same year, Christine began teaching architecture as a professor at Pennsylvania State University. She and her husband focused on designing houses. They were especially interested in making homes functional for people with physical challenges. This meant designing spaces that were easy to use and move around in for everyone.

While teaching at Penn State, Christine worked in the Home Arts and Design Department. She believed it was very important for buildings to be practical. She taught about how spaces work, how they fit into their surroundings, and how different parts like building, decorating, and planning all come together. She wanted students to think about the whole house, from the outside to the inside, and how furniture and comfort played a role.

In the late 1950s, Christine and her husband wrote several books together about design. Around 1959, her husband Cuthbert got a job at Oklahoma State University. So, they moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma. Because of rules against family members working in the same department (called nepotism restrictions), Christine could not teach architecture there. Instead, she joined the College of Home Economics. She became a professor in the Housing and Interior Design Department.

From 1969 to 1985, Christine served on the National Housing Commission of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA is a professional group for architects. She was also named a Fellow of the AIA. This is a special honor given to architects who have made important contributions. Christine earned this honor for her work in creating design standards for people with physical and mental challenges. In the 1970s, Christine was a visiting professor at many different universities. These included Ohio State University, Texas Tech University, the University of Iowa, and the University of Nebraska. She also taught at universities in Saudi Arabia and Taipei, Taiwan.

Christine was a very popular teacher. She won the OSU Teacher of the Year award three times: in 1966, 1971, and 1978. She was also active in her community. From 1973 to 1978, she served on the Stillwater Planning Commission, which helps plan the city's future. She was even the chair of this commission in 1974. Then, from 1977 to 1982, Christine served on the Stillwater City Council. This group makes decisions for the city.

In 1982, Christine was inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame. This was a big honor, as it was the very first year this Hall of Fame existed. From 1982 until she passed away, Christine served as the mayor of Stillwater. She was the first woman ever to hold this important position. In 1984, a special teaching fund, called the Chris Salmon Endowed Professorship, was created in her honor at OSU.

Christine Salmon passed away on October 10, 1985, in Stillwater, Oklahoma, after battling cancer. She was honored after her death in several ways. A park in Stillwater was named the Chris Salmon Plaza in her memory. Also, a former student placed a brick with her name on it in the Plaza of Heroines at Iowa State University.

Notable Designs

Christine Salmon and her husband designed many buildings. Here are a few examples of their work:

• 1956 Hatcher residence, State College, Pennsylvania
• 1957 Woods School Child Study Treatment and Training Center, Langhorn, Pennsylvania
• 1958 Pike residence, State College, Pennsylvania
• 1964 St. Andrews Episcopalian Church, Stillwater, Oklahoma
• 1969 Lutheran Chapel, Stillwater, Oklahoma
• Starting Point II Rehabilitation Center, Stillwater, Oklahoma

See also

In Spanish: Christine Fahringer Salmon para niños