Lois Howe facts for kids

Lois Lilley Howe (born September 25, 1864 – died September 13, 1964) was an American architect. She started the first architecture company in Boston, Massachusetts, that was run only by women.

About Lois Lilley Howe

Lois Lilley Howe was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She studied at the Museum of Fine Arts School from 1882 to 1886. Later, she studied architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

MIT was one of only six schools in America that allowed women to study architecture before 1910. Lois graduated in 1890. She was the only woman in her class of 66 students.

After college, she worked for an architecture company called Allen and Kenway. She came in second place in a contest to design the Women's Building for the Chicago World's Fair. Another architect named Sophia Hayden won first place.

Lois opened her own architecture office in 1894. At first, she designed or updated homes for her friends. Soon, she got more and more jobs. By 1900, she had enough work to open an office in downtown Boston.

She loved history and the small details in architecture. She wrote articles about new ways to use plaster. In 1913, she published a book called Details of Old New England Houses. She wrote it with Constance Fuller, who also went to MIT.

In 1913, Lois partnered with Eleanor Manning. In 1926, Mary Almy joined them. Their company became known as Howe, Manning & Almy, Inc.. This was a very important all-female architecture firm.

Lois Lilley Howe was also a leader outside of her work. She was president of the Business Women's Club of Boston. She also led the MIT Women's Association. She helped with committees about small houses and housing in Boston.

Lois retired in 1937 when she was 73 years old. Her company, Howe, Manning & Almy, Inc., closed down. Her partners started their own separate businesses. Even after retiring, she kept sharing her love for history. She gave talks about what Cambridge was like when she was a girl. Lois Lilley Howe died in 1964, just before her 100th birthday.

Awards and Special Recognition

Lois Lilley Howe first gained attention in 1893. She won second place in a national contest. This was for the Woman's Building at the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago.

In 1901, Lois became the second woman to join the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA is a group for architects in America. In 1931, she was chosen as the first female Fellow of the AIA. This is a very high honor for an architect.

Many of the designs from her company were shown in popular magazines. These magazines, like House Beautiful, praised their well-designed small homes.

Notable Projects

The company Howe, Manning & Almy, Inc. completed over 426 projects. They worked for 43 years. Many of the buildings they designed are still standing today. Their designs were known for being strong and well-made. They used good materials and chose great locations. This made their houses comfortable and valuable.

Here are some of their important projects:

• Walnut Hill School in Natick, Massachusetts (1913)
• Suffrage Coffee House (1917)
• Lucy Stone Hospital (1918)
• Boston Army and Navy Canteen (1918)
• The College Club of Boston (1923)
• Projects for McCall's Magazine (1923-1924)
• Chec-R Shoe Store (1923)
• Women’s Republican Club (1924)
• Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts (1925-1926)

Legacy

Lois Lilley Howe's important papers are kept at MIT. They are part of the collection for Howe, Manning, and Almy. Her collection of photographs is at the Cambridge Historical Society.

See also

In Spanish: Lois Howe para niños