Edith Northman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edith Northman
Born	Edith Mortensen 1893 Denmark
Died	1956 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
Occupation	Architect

Edith Northman (1893–1956) was a very important architect. She was one of the first women architects in Southern California. She was also the first woman to be a registered architect in Los Angeles. Edith designed many different kinds of buildings. These included homes, shops, and even gas stations!

Early Life and Learning

Edith Mortensen Northman was born in Denmark on October 8, 1893. Her father was Danish and her mother was Swedish. When she was nine, her family moved to Norway. She lived there through her high school years.

Later, she moved to Copenhagen to study art. In 1914, her family moved to the United States. A few years later, Edith moved to Brigham City, Utah. She worked there as a librarian.

Edith became very interested in architecture. In 1918, she moved to Salt Lake City. There, she worked for an architect named Eugene R. Wheelon. She was a draftsman, which means she drew building plans.

In 1920, Edith moved to Los Angeles for health reasons. She found work with architect Clarence J. Smale. She quickly became his main draftsman. In 1926, she started her own architecture business. But she also decided to go back to school. She studied architecture at the University of Southern California. Edith earned her degree in 1930. The next year, she got her official license to be an architect.

Designing Buildings

Edith Northman's career started during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people had little money. Even so, she designed over a hundred buildings! Her career lasted for 25 years.

She designed many different types of buildings. These included single-family homes and large apartment buildings. She also designed hotels, a church, and a synagogue. She even designed factories and gas stations.

Edith designed homes all over Southern California. Some of these places were Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs. Her buildings had many different styles. Some looked like old European buildings. Others had a modern look, like Streamline Moderne.

Working with Movies

Some of Edith's clients were from the film industry. One client was the actor Jean Hersholt. Edith also helped with a movie called Woman Chases Man. In this movie, the main character is an architect. Edith gave advice to make the movie more realistic.

Gas Station Designs

One of her biggest jobs was for the Union Oil Company. She designed more than 50 gas stations for them! These stations were along the West Coast. They stretched from San Diego to Vancouver. In 1934, the company even got two patents for her gas station designs. This means her designs were officially recognized as new and special.

Normandie Mar Apartment Hotel

One of her famous buildings is the Normandie Mar Apartment Hotel in Fresno. It has two stories. This hotel was inspired by old French castles. It has a steep roof and many windows with small panes. It also has decorative towers and fancy plaster designs. This is the only building by Edith Northman known in the San Joaquin Valley.

World War II Work

During World War II, Edith Northman helped the United States Army Corps of Engineers. She worked on plans for military buildings. These included fortifications, hospitals, and other important structures.

After the war, she went back to her own business. She focused on designing large apartment buildings and hotels. Many of these were in Los Angeles and Palm Springs.

In the early 1950s, Edith Northman had health problems. She could no longer hold a pencil to draw. This meant she had to stop working. She passed away in 1956 in Salt Lake City.

Edith Northman's nephew was Jack Anderson. He became a well-known newspaper columnist.

Some Buildings She Designed

• Berger Winston Apartment Building, Los Angeles (1937)
• Danish Lutheran Church, Los Angeles (1937)
• Insley House, Los Angeles (1940)
• Normandie Mar Apartment Hotel, Fresno (1939)
• Villa Sevilla apartments, West Hollywood (1931)
• Laurel Manor Apartments, West Hollywood (1940)