Louise Blanchard Bethune facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louise Blanchard Bethune
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Born | Waterloo, New York, USA
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July 21, 1856
Died | December 18, 1915 Buffalo, New York, USA
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(aged 59)
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Architect |
Practice | Buffalo, New York |
Buildings | Hotel Lafayette |
Louise Blanchard Bethune (July 21, 1856 – December 18, 1913) was a very important person in American history. She was the first woman in the United States known to work as a professional architect. This means she was the first woman to design buildings for a living.
Louise was born in Waterloo, New York. She mostly worked in Buffalo, New York. She even had her own architecture company with her husband, called Bethune, Bethune & Fuchs.

One of her most famous designs is the beautiful Hotel Lafayette. Another building, the Buffalo Meter Company Building, was later renamed Bethune Hall to honor her.
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About Louise's Life
Louise Blanchard Bethune was born Jennie Louise Blanchard in Waterloo, New York, in 1856. When she was a child, her family moved to Buffalo, New York. She finished high school in Buffalo in 1874.
In 1881, she married Canadian Robert A. Bethune (1855-1915), who was also an architect. They had one son named Charles William Bethune in 1883.
Louise was quite active and modern for her time. She reportedly bought the first woman's bicycle sold in Buffalo! She was also a member of the Women's Wheel and Athletic Club. People said she had strong beliefs about women's rights.
Louise's Career as an Architect
Louise had planned to study architecture at Cornell University. However, in 1876, she decided to learn by working. She got a job as a draftsman in the office of well-known architects Richard A. Waite and F.W. Caulkins in Buffalo. Back then, it was common to learn architecture by working for a company instead of going to a classroom.
After five years, in 1881, she opened her own office with Robert Bethune in Buffalo. This made her the first professional woman architect in the country!
Joining Professional Groups
Louise was a leader in the architecture world. In 1885, she was chosen to be a member of the Western Association of Architects (WAA). She even served as a vice president for the WAA later on.
In 1888, she became the first female associate of the American Institute of Architects (A.I.A.). The next year, in 1889, she became the first female fellow of the A.I.A. This was a big achievement!
Standing Up for Equal Pay
In 1891, Louise refused to join a design contest for the Women's Building at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. She did this because men were paid $10,000 to design buildings for the fair, but women were only offered $1,000. She believed this was unfair.
Buildings Louise Designed
Louise mostly designed buildings for businesses and public use. She didn't like working on homes because they didn't pay well. She was especially known for designing public schools. Sadly, many of the buildings she designed have been torn down over time.
Her most famous and best design is the beautiful Hotel Lafayette. It cost $1 million to build and was finished in 1904. This hotel has since been restored and looks amazing today.
Her company also designed the Denton, Cottier & Daniels music store. This was one of the first buildings in the United States to use a steel frame and concrete floors.
Three other buildings designed by Louise's firm are still standing today:
- The Iroquois Door Plant Company warehouse.
- The large Chandler Street Complex for the Buffalo Weaving Company.
- The Witkop and Holmes Headquarters (built in 1901). This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
During her career, Louise was involved in designing about 150 buildings in the Buffalo and New England areas.
Louise retired in 1908 and passed away on December 18, 1913, at age 57. By 1910, just before she died, there were already 50 women working as professional architects. This shows how much things had changed since she started!
Louise's Written Work
Louise also wrote about architecture. One of her articles was:
- "Influence of Women on Architecture." American Architect and Building News (January 1, 1893): pages 3–4.
Louise's Legacy
Louise Blanchard Bethune is remembered in many ways.
The old Buffalo Meter Company Building was renamed Bethune Hall to honor her. This building used to house the Department of Art and the School of Architecture and Planning for the University at Buffalo. In 2011, a company bought the building and turned it into 87 apartments. It was renamed Bethune Lofts in 2013. This building is now on the National Register of Historic Places and has received awards for its historic preservation.
In 2013, Louise's grave got a new marker. It says:
"JENNIE LOUISE
BLANCHARD BETHUNE
JULY 21, 1856
DECEMBER 18, 1915"
She is buried in Buffalo's Forest Lawn Cemetery.
See also
In Spanish: Louise Blanchard Bethune para niños