Victorine & Samuel Homsey facts for kids

Victorine & Samuel Homsey
Practice information
Partners	Victorine du Pont Homsey Samuel Eldon Homsey
Founded	1935
Dissolved	1979
Location	Wilmington, Delaware

Victorine & Samuel Homsey was a famous American architecture company. It was based in Delaware and started by two architects, Victorine du Pont Homsey and Samuel Eldon Homsey. They were married, and their firm was one of the first in the United States to be founded by a husband and wife team.

Meet the Architects: Victorine and Samuel Homsey

Victorine du Pont Homsey and Samuel Eldon Homsey were talented architects who created many important buildings. They were a married couple who decided to work together, which was quite unusual for their time.

Victorine du Pont Homsey's Journey

Victorine du Pont was born in Michigan. She came from the well-known Du Pont family. She studied at Wellesley College and later earned her architecture degree from the Cambridge School of Domestic and Landscape Architecture for Women. This school later became connected with Smith College. After finishing her studies, she worked as a draftsperson in Boston, where she met Samuel Homsey. They got married in 1929.

Samuel Eldon Homsey's Journey

Samuel Eldon Homsey was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He studied architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees. Besides architecture, Samuel also loved to paint. He created many watercolor landscapes, some of which are now in the Biggs Museum of American Art.

Building Dreams: Their Architectural Practice

In 1935, Victorine and Samuel moved to Wilmington, Delaware, and started their own company, Victorine & Samuel Homsey. They were pioneers in Delaware, being among the first architects to use the International Style in their designs. One of their early house designs was even shown in a special exhibition in Paris in 1938!

Designing for the Community

The Homseys believed in creating buildings that were both beautiful and practical. They worked during the Great Depression, so they focused on using new materials and finding ways to build economically. Their firm became very important in Wilmington, designing many different types of buildings.

• Homes: They designed many houses, including one that was featured in Better Homes and Gardens magazine. People could buy the plans for this house by mail for just $5!
• Schools and Churches: They created designs for various schools and places of worship.
• Museums and Gardens: They worked on projects for famous places like Longwood Gardens and the Winterthur Museum. For Winterthur, they designed the visitor's pavilion and a lecture hall.
• Public Buildings: They designed the Delaware Art Museum and later helped expand it. They also designed the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran, and the Dover Public Library.
• Award-Winning Designs: Their design for the Cambridge Yacht Club in Maryland won a special award.

Historic Homes and Gardens

One of the houses they built in 1938, in the Colonial Revival style, is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, this house serves as the main building for Mt. Cuba Center, a beautiful botanical garden near Wilmington.

Victorine's Leadership in Architecture

Victorine was also a talented landscape architect, designing many gardens in Delaware. She was recognized for her skills and became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1967. She held important positions, including serving on the Washington Fine Arts Commission. She also led the team that restored the Octagon House, which is the headquarters for the AIA in Washington, D.C.

Samuel's Contributions and Service

During World War II, the Homseys moved to Washington, D.C. Samuel served in the Naval Reserve, working in research and inventions. While he was serving, Victorine worked with another architect, Eugene H. Klaber, to design an elementary school and a large public housing area in Greenbelt, Maryland. Samuel was also a Fellow of the AIA and served as its vice-president for two years. He also helped with many planning and zoning boards in Delaware.

Legacy of the Homseys

Victorine and Samuel Homsey retired in 1979. They passed their company on to their son, Eldon du Pont Homsey, who was also an architect. The firm then became known as Homsey Architects, Inc. Their work continues to inspire new generations of architects and designers.