Marie Schneiderová-Zubaníková facts for kids

Marie Schneiderová-Zubaníková (born March 14, 1900 – died September 11, 1966) was a pioneering woman from the Czech Republic. She was a talented civil engineer and architect. What makes her special is that she was the very first woman to become a qualified civil engineer in Czechoslovakia.

Early Life and Learning

Born in České Budějovice

Marie Zubaníková was born on March 14, 1900, in a city called České Budějovice. Her father, Bohumil Zubaník, was a chief engineer for the state railways. This likely sparked her interest in engineering from a young age.

Becoming the First Woman Engineer

On June 30, 1923, Marie made history. She became the first woman in Czechoslovakia to graduate with a degree in civil engineering. She studied at the Czech Technical University in Prague. Her studies were very broad, covering many subjects. These included physics, chemistry, math, and different types of engineering. She learned about building roads, railways, tunnels, and bridges.

Her Amazing Career

Working in the United States

In 1924, Marie Zubaníková got a special chance. She was sent to the United States for an internship. She was the first woman engineer from her country to do this! She sailed across the ocean and arrived in New York on June 30, 1924.

Between 1925 and 1929, Marie worked in Chicago. She was a designer and structural engineer for a big company called Sears Roebuck. One of her main jobs was to calculate how to make concrete buildings stronger. She also learned about business topics like advertising and economics.

While in the US, Marie wrote articles. She shared her thoughts on how women were working in factories and in engineering. She also wrote about women's roles in public life.

A Leader in Engineering

On January 8, 1928, Marie was chosen as a vice-president. This was for the American Association of Czechoslovak Engineers in Chicago. Here, she met Josef Schneider, a visiting professor from her old university. They later married, and she added his name to hers, becoming Marie Schneiderová-Zubaníková.

Return to Czechoslovakia

In 1929, Marie returned to her home country. She became a technical advisor to Alice Masaryková. Alice was an important leader of the Czech Red Cross. Marie also worked in Prague as the head of housing hygiene. This meant she helped make sure homes were healthy and safe.

Marie was always looking for ways to make daily life better. On July 8, 1930, she even filed a patent for a special mobile washing table!

She was a member of several important groups. These included the Chicago Female Architect's Club and the American Association of University Women. She was also part of the National Geographic Society.

Personal Life and Hobbies

Moving Back to the US

Around 1938 or 1939, Marie and her husband moved back to the US. They wanted to avoid the growing problems in Czechoslovakia. They first lived in Bata Shoe Village in Belcamp, Maryland. Later, they moved to Harrisburg, Virginia, when Josef became a teacher there.

A Life Full of Interests

Marie loved to travel. She explored different parts of the USA, India, and Europe. She was also a talented musician. She played both the piano and the violin very well. For fun, she enjoyed sports like tennis and horseriding.

Marie Schneiderová-Zubaníková passed away on September 11, 1966. She died in Chevy Chase, Maryland.