Louise Harris Brown


General Information


Occupation: Architect

Date of Birth: June 12, 1918

Date of Death: September 21, 1999

Birth City: Topeka

Birth State/Province: Kansas

Birth Country: United States

Resident City: Sao Paul

Resident Country: Brazil

Notes: Believed to be the second licensed African American female architect

Archive/Repository: Sarah Brown, Silver Springs, Maryland

Sources: relatives ; Rossell, E.G. Daves. "African American Architects: a Biographical Dictionary, 1865-1945." CRM: the Journal of Heritage Stewardship 2 (2005).


Specialties


No specialties on record


Jobs


Employer: Kenneth Roderick O'Neal Architect

Title: Drafter/designer

City: Chicago

Country: Brazil


Employer: Frank J. Kornacker & Associates

Title: In-house architect in engineering office

City: Chicago

Country: Brazil

Notes: Coordination of architecture and engineering drawings for Promontory and Lake Shore Apartments by Mies van der Rohe


Employer: Louise H. Brown Architect

Title: Principal

City: Sao Paulo

Country: Brazil

Notes: Residental and commercial projects


Employer: Charles Bosworth Architect

Title: Project manager

City: Sao Paulo

Country: Brazil

Notes: Projects included Ford Motors & Pfizer


Collaborators


No collaborators on record


Apprenticeships


No apprenticeships on record


Awards


No awards on record


Exhibitions


No exhibitions on record


Notable Projects


Title: Installations for the Fourth City Centennial

Description: Self-employed (Escandia Ltda.)

City: Sao Paulo

Country: Brazil


Title: Pfizer Corp. of Brazil

Description: Laboratories, manufacturing plant and offices, Employed by Hadeager Bosworth of Brazil, S.A.

City: Guarulhos

Country: Brazil


Title: Kodak Brasileira

Description: Camera production plant, Employed by Racz Construction

City: Sao Paulo

Country: Brazil


Title: Matarazzo Residence

Description: Large residence designed while self-employed (Louise H. Brown Architect)

City: Sao Paulo

Country: Brazil


Education


Institution: Washburn University

Start Date: September 30, 1936

End Date: September 30, 1937

Notes: Mother's alma mater


Institution: Armour Institute of Technology in Chicago (now Illinois Institute of Technology)

Department: Architectural

Notes: Took a design course taught by Mies van der Rohe


Institution: University of Kansas in Lawrence

Department: School of Engineering and Architecture

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Architetcure

End Date: September 30, 1944


Institution: Illinois Institute of Technology

Department: Civil Engineering

Degree: Structural Engineering, reinforced concrete design


Licensing


License: Licensed Architect #1003417

Organization: Department of Professional Regulations-State of Illinois

Date Awarded: July 19, 1949


Professional Affiliations


Organization: Alpha Alpha Gamma

Role: Member


Publications By


No publications by on record


Publications About


Title: Only Woman at Engineering Firm

Author: Unknown

Publication: Ebony


Title: Mother of Two Set to Do Business as an Architect

Author: Unknown

Publication: Topeka State Journal

Date Published: September 18, 1949


Title: Brazilian Santas Swelter Bravely in Summer Sun

Author: Unknown

Publication: Topekan State Journal

Date Published: December 17, 1958


Title: African American Women in Architecture: A History

Author: Vinson E. McKenzie

Publication: NOMA Notes