Edith Henderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edith Henderson
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| Born |
Edith Harrison
June 9, 1911 Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
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| Died | October 12, 2005 (aged 94) Atlanta, Georgia, United States
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | James Henderson |
| Practice | Edith Harrison and Grace Campbell, Landscape Architects |
Edith Harrison Henderson (1911–2005) was an American landscape architect. She designed outdoor spaces, mainly in the southern United States. Edith wrote a popular gardening column for a newspaper. She was also the first woman to become an officer in the American Society of Landscape Architects, a big group for landscape designers.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Edith Harrison was born on June 9, 1911, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her family moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1925.
In 1934, she finished her studies at the Lowthorpe School of Landscape Architecture in Massachusetts. She also earned a science degree from Simmons College in Boston that same year. In 1939, Edith married James Henderson. They had three children together.
Designing Outdoor Spaces
After college, Edith returned to Atlanta. She started her own design business with another landscape architect, Grace Campbell.
In 1936, Edith worked as the director of the new Rich’s Department Store Garden Center. This was a place where people could get ideas and supplies for their gardens. By 1938, her private design work grew so much that she left the store.
Over five decades, Edith worked with many clients. Her projects ranged from small private gardens to large public spaces and churches. She became a licensed landscape architect in six different states.
Famous Projects
One of her most well-known projects was the landscaping for the Techwood Homes in Atlanta. This was the first public housing project in the United States, finished in 1936. Edith wanted the area to feel like a park within the city. She said the design would always have something green or in bloom, making it pleasing to everyone.
In 1939, Edith and Grace Campbell also designed the landscape for the Clark Howell Homes, another public housing project nearby. Other important projects include the grounds for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. She designed a special Memory Garden for the church that looks like an angel with outstretched wings when seen from above.
Sharing Garden Tips
In 1940, Edith started writing a weekly gardening column for Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper. She wrote this column until the late 1970s. She gave helpful advice to gardeners and shared stories from her own projects. Edith also wrote for magazines like Veranda and Southern Accents.
Professional Recognition
In the late 1950s, Edith worked with the state of Georgia to create a new board. This board would license landscape architects who passed an exam. This helped make sure landscape designers were well-trained.
Edith received many awards for her work. She also got an honorary degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. In 1971, the Garden Club of America gave her a special medal for excellence in landscape architecture.
Edith was a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects since 1955. In 1976, she made history by becoming the first woman elected as a vice-president of the society. She continued to serve on the society's board and led its Council of Fellows.
Towards the end of her career, Edith wrote gardening books. These included The Peachtree Garden Book (1982) and Edith Henderson’s Home Landscape Companion (1993).
Edith Henderson passed away in Atlanta on October 12, 2005. Her important papers are kept at the Atlanta History Center. A scholarship for landscape architecture students has been created in her name.
Books
- Henderson, Edith. Edith Henderson's Home Landscape Companion. Peachtree Publishers, 1993
