Josephine Wright Chapman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Josephine Wright Chapman
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1901 portrait of Josephine Wright Chapman.
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| Born | 1867 |
| Died | 1943 |
| Alma mater | Blackall, Clapp and Whittemore apprenticeship |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | 1901 Pan-American Exposition New England building award |
| Practice | Own practice in Boston and New York |
| Buildings | Four of Chapman’s buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places |
Josephine Wright Chapman (born 1867, died 1943) was a very important woman architect. She was one of only a few women working in this field in the early 1900s. She was even the first woman in American history to start and lead her own architecture company! She did this in the late 1800s.
Josephine worked in both Boston and New York. She began her career as an apprentice at the famous Blackall, Clapp and Whittemore firm. In 1897, she opened her first company in Boston at Grundmann Studios. This was a special place for women artists.
Even though she was a member of the New York Society of Architects, other groups like the American Institute of Architects did not let her join because she was a woman. But this did not stop her! She designed many buildings, including churches, clubs, libraries, and apartments. She also designed Women's Clubs in Lynn and Worcester, Massachusetts.
Later, Josephine opened a second company in New York. Her career really grew from there. A magazine called The Ladies' Home Journal said that her work could be found "everywhere in the environs of New York." This shows how popular and busy she was.
Today, four of Josephine Chapman's buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are very important historical places. These buildings include the Winthrop Building in Boston, Craigie Arms at Harvard (now named for her), Tuckerman Hall in Worcester, and Hillandale in Washington D.C.
Becoming an Architect
Josephine Chapman started her architecture training in 1892. Clarence Blackall agreed to teach her. He showed her how to design public buildings. He also taught her to try new building materials. In 1893, Blackall's firm designed the Winthrop Building in Boston. This was the first building in Boston made with a steel frame.
In 1897, Chapman opened her own company in Boston. It was located in Grundmann Studios, a place for women artists. She soon got a big project to design the New England Building. This project helped her become well-known.
Major Projects
After her success with the New England Building, Harvard University asked Josephine to design their Craigie Arms dormitory. While working on this, she also designed St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Leominster, Massachusetts. By the early 1900s, her company had six drafters, including one woman.
After 1901, Chapman tried to join the American Institute of Architects. She also applied to the Boston Architectural Club. Both groups did not let her join because she was a woman.
In 1907, she moved to New York City. There, she opened a new company near Washington Square Park. She focused on designing homes. Around 1909, she was known as the only woman architect in the Boston area.
Gallery
(Selection was limited by availability.)
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Chapman helped designed Boston's Winthrop Building, the first built with a steel frame, while at Blackall, Clapp and Whittemore in 1893. It is now in the National Historic Register.
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Harvard's Chapman Arms (formerly Craigie Arms), was renamed for the architect. Built in 1897, in Cambridge, MA, it is now in the National Historic Register.
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Worcester Woman's Club / Tuckerman Hall, Worcester, MA. (1902) is now in the National Historic Register.
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New Century Building, Huntington Ave., Boston, c. 1903.
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Boston's New Century Building, interior.
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Boston's New Century Building, interior.
Notable Designs
Here are some of the buildings Josephine Wright Chapman designed:
- Craigie Arms, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts (1897)
- All Saints Episcopal Church, Attleboro, Massachusetts (around 1900)
- Episcopal Church, Leominster, Massachusetts (around 1900)
- New England Building, Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo, New York (1901)
- Worcester Woman's Club / Tuckerman Hall, Worcester, Massachusetts (1902)
- New Century Building, Huntington Avenue, Boston (around 1903)
- Hillandale, Georgetown, Washington D.C. (1922)
- Houses in Douglas Manor, Queens, New York (around 1916)
About Her Life
People described Josephine Chapman as "modest, direct, simple." They also said she had "ability, energy, and strong faith in herself." She grew up in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. She was one of four daughters of Mary E. Wright and James Levi Chapman. Her father was the president of the Fitchburg Machine Works.
See also
In Spanish: Josephine Wright Chapman para niños
