What Minerva Built

The final episode of the series takes a look back at Minerva's surviving  records, in the form of her drawings and extant buildings. It sheds new light on the influence that Minerva has continued to wield for over a  century, through her life, teachings, writings, and most importantly,  her work.

The collective forgetting of Minerva Parker Nichols is not an isolated case. This episode take a look at three other case studies in which under-represented communities have been overlooked, including a re-examination of Edith Farnsworth's house in Plano, Illinois; the work of the New York City LGBT Historic Sites Project; and the mission of  H.O.P.E. Crew.

One of Minerva's highest-profile projects was a pavilion commissioned by  the Queen Isabella Association, to be built for the World's Columbian  Exposition in 1893. A series of political maneuvers by the fair's organizers ultimately cost Minerva the project and led to the breakdown  of one of her colleagues in the profession, Sophia Hayden. This episode  examines the ways in which the profession of architecture has for over a century written the definition of an "architect" so that women are left  out.

Grounded in practical apprenticeship training, Minerva supervised construction on all of her design projects. This episode takes a closer look at that particular aspect of Minerva's competency, and considers how women navigate the construction site day.

Minerva's career dovetailed with the emergence of women’s clubs in the late 19th century, and her designs for three women's clubhouses created new hubs of social action for white American women. These projects were pivotal commissions for Minerva, expanding her network of available clients, and she enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with many of her  clients.

This  episode looks at Minerva's overall portfolio and her specialization in residential architecture, including the principles of her design philosophy and the common features of her designs. Her approach to architecture cannot be separated from her approach to the profession, so this episode takes full account of her competency and the ways in which her training factored into her projects.

It's important to place Minerva Parker Nichols in context with her design peers,  male and female, and examine her path into the field in the context of other early women architects. This episode considers why we focus so strongly on  the “pioneers"— setting them apart as individuals without situating them as fully participating members of the profession.

When she died in 1949, architect Minerva Parker Nichols was memorialized in the New York Times with a headlined obituary—no small feat. This episode traces the lifelong themes of Minerva's work, beginning with her childhood in Peoria, Illinois, and her architectural education in Philadelphia.

Introducing "What Minerva Built," a special podcast about architect Minerva Parker Nichols, and what she can teach us about the work of architecture, preservation, and history.