Gertrude Kuh facts for kids

Gertrude Kuh (1893–1977) was an American landscape architect. She was known for designing beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces, mostly around the Chicago area. She created over 400 projects during her 40-year career.

Early Life and Education

Gertrude Eisendrath was born on September 11, 1893, in Racine, Wisconsin. Her family moved to Chicago when she was six years old.

She began her college studies at Sweet Briar College in Virginia. However, she soon transferred to the Lowthorpe School of Landscape Architecture in Massachusetts. She graduated from there in 1917.

After college, Gertrude trained with a well-known landscape architect named Ellen Biddle Shipman. This training helped her learn important skills for designing outdoor spaces. In 1921, she moved back to Chicago.

Family Life

Gertrude married Jerome Deimel, and they had a son named John. Sadly, Jerome passed away in 1926. Later, in 1942, Gertrude married George Kuh.

Designing Outdoor Spaces

Gertrude Kuh worked as a landscape architect for about 40 years. During this time, she designed more than 400 landscaping projects and gardens. She mostly worked by herself but had two assistants, Mary Long Rogers and Edith Antognoli.

Her Design Style

Gertrude Kuh designed many projects for private homes, especially in and around Chicago. She worked on both new gardens and redesigned older ones.

She was known for her clever ways of making smaller yards feel large and private. She would group trees and shrubs together. She also used trees with interesting shapes to make spaces look grand. Her designs often used many shades of green to create a calm and natural feel.

Gertrude Kuh passed away in September 1977. Her work and ideas are still studied today. Her papers, which include letters and interviews, are kept at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1997, an exhibition called "The Modern Midwestern Landscape" featured her designs.