(Esther) Marjorie Hill


General Information


Occupation: Architect, Weaver, Educator

Date of Birth: January 01, 1895

Date of Death: January 01, 1985

Birth City: Guelph

Birth State/Province: Ontario

Birth Country: Canada

Resident City: Victoria

Resident State/Province: British Columbia

Resident Country: Canada

Notes: First woman in Canada to earn an architectural degree. In an interview shortly after graduation, Marjorie stated, "One must have artistic talent, practical experience, professional knowledge, good business and executive ability, resourcefulness, and a determination to persevere. With these assets there is no reason why a woman should not be as successful as a man."

Sources: Biographical sketch found in the Blanche Lemco van Ginkel collection of the IAWA ; http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/women/002026-407-e.html


Specialties


No specialties on record


Jobs


Employer: Eaton's Department Store

Title: Worked in the Interior decorating department.

City: Toronto

Country: Canada


Employer: McDonald and Magoon, Architects

City: Edmonton

Country: Canada

Notes: Hill worked on the Carnegie Library, where her father was the chief librarian. Hill returned to the firm in 1928 to work until 1929, when the Depression eliminated all professional work.


Employer: Marcia Mead

Title: Architect

City: New York

State: New York

Country: United States

Start Date: January 01, 1923

End Date: January 01, 1924


Employer: Taught weaving and glove making during the depression.

Country: Canada

Notes: in 1936 Hill became a Master Weaver and moved to British Columbia to teach.


Employer: Kathryn C. Budd

Title: Architect

City: New York

State: New York

Country: United States

Start Date: January 01, 1925

End Date: January 01, 1928


Collaborators


No collaborators on record


Apprenticeships


No apprenticeships on record


Awards


No awards on record


Exhibitions


No exhibitions on record


Notable Projects


Title: Houses converted to Apartments, residential renovations

Description: An architectural commission led to a part time practice.

City: Victoria

State: British Columbia

Country: Canada

Notes: By 1945 the architectural practice became full time at the end of the war as volume of work increased: houses, motel addition, Fellowship Hall, and a convelescent home for seniors.


Education


Institution: University of Alberta

Degree: Bachelor of Art

End Date: January 01, 1916


Institution: University of Toronto

Department: Architecture

Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science, Architecture

End Date: January 01, 1920


Institution: University of Alberta

Department: Architecture

Notes: HIll completed two years in the architecture program before transferring to the University of Toronto.


Institution: University of Toronto

Department: Town Planning

Degree: Completed post graduate course


Institution: Columbia University

Notes: Hill completed a summer design course.


Licensing


License: Alberta Registration

Organization: Alberta Association of Architects

Date Awarded: January 01, 1925

Notes: Hill applied unsuccessfully to register in 1921, but was registered in 1925. First woman in Canada to be named a professionally Registered Architect.


License: Registered Architect

Organization: Architectural Institute of British Columbia


Professional Affiliations


No affiliations on record


Publications By


No publications by on record


Publications About


Title: Constructing careers : profiles of five early women architects in British Columbia

Author: Women in Architecture Exhibits Committee

Page: 18-25

City: Vancouver

Date Published: January 01, 1996


Title: Slowly and surely (but somewhat painfully) more or less the history of women in architecture in Canada

Author: Blanche Lemco van Ginkel

Publication: The Canadian Architect

Volume: 38

Issue: 11

Page: 15-17

Date Published: January 01, 1993


Title: First woman architect receives big ovation

Author: unknown

Publication: Globe and mail

Volume: June 5, 1920

Page: 8