Elizabeth Greenleaf Pattee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Greenleaf Pattee
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| Born | 1893 |
| Died | 1991 Hightstown, New Jersey
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| Alma mater | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lowthorpe School of Landscape Architecture |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | Arthur Coleman Comey |
| Awards | Fellow American Institute of Architects |
| Practice | Pattee and Peters |
Elizabeth Greenleaf Pattee (1893–1991) was an important American architect and landscape architect. She also taught architecture at universities in the Northeast for many years. Her career lasted for half a century, which is 50 years!
Contents
Early Life and Education
Elizabeth Pattee was born in 1893 in Quincy, Massachusetts. Her family had lived in New England for a very long time. Some of her ancestors were even painted by a famous artist from the Colonial era named Joseph Blackburn. Later in her life, Elizabeth donated a painting of her great-great-granduncle, Daniel Greenleaf, to a special art gallery called the National Portrait Gallery.
Elizabeth loved learning about design and buildings. She went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and earned her degree in architecture in 1916. For her final project, she designed a day school for girls. After MIT, she continued her studies at the Lowthorpe School of Landscape Architecture for Women. She got her diploma around 1918.
In 1950, Elizabeth Pattee married Arthur Coleman Comey. He was also a landscape architect and a city planner. Sadly, he passed away four years later.
A Long and Creative Career
Elizabeth Pattee's professional life was very long and busy, lasting for five decades. At first, she worked for other architects. This included a company called Stone and Webster from 1919 to 1921. She also worked with famous women architects like Lois Howe and Eleanor Manning.
Starting Her Own Business
In 1922, Elizabeth decided to open her own business in Boston. She partnered with another landscape architect named Constance E. Peters. Their company, Pattee and Peters, worked together until the 1940s. They focused on designing outdoor spaces that were useful and beautiful. They always thought about the entire area when planning their projects.
One of their first big projects was Killian Court at MIT. This is a very important public space on the university's campus. Other projects included the gardens for the headquarters of the Colonial Dames of America in Connecticut. They also designed the gardens at the Kimball-Jenkins Estate in New Hampshire in 1929. Today, this estate is an art school!
Teaching and Leadership
Elizabeth Pattee also loved to teach. She taught at the Lowthorpe School for more than twenty years. At one point, she even served as the acting principal of the school.
From 1945 to 1963, she taught at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). The Lowthorpe School actually joined RISD in 1945. At RISD, Elizabeth led the landscape architecture department during two different periods: from 1946 to 1952 and again from 1955 to 1959.
Elizabeth also wrote articles about landscape design for magazines like Landscape Architecture.
Recognized for Her Work
Elizabeth Pattee was highly respected in her field. In 1933, she became a fellow of the American Institute of Architects. This is a special honor for architects. In 1964, she helped start the New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. She was the only woman among the founding members! She was also a member of other important groups, like the International Federation of Landscape Architects. She was elected to the American Society of Landscape Architects in 1961.
Elizabeth Pattee retired to Hightstown, New Jersey, where she passed away in 1991.
