Off-campus SJSU users: To download campus access theses, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your SJSU library user name and PIN.

Publication Date

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Thesis - Campus Access Only

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Art and Art History

Advisor

Anthony Raynsford; Elizabeth Carroll; Sarah Mills

Abstract

Louise Blanchard Bethune was the first professional woman architect in the United States, practicing from 1881 to 1910 at a time when women were largely excluded from architectural education and professional practice. Despite operating a successful firm, embracing new technologies, and achieving several architectural firsts, she remains largely absent from mainstream architectural histories. This study examines Bethune’s architectural philosophy through key examples of her industrial, educational, and commercial work in Buffalo, emphasizing her client-centered, function-driven approach during a period of rapid urban growth. It also analyzes the gendered social barriers she overcame and the historiographic mechanisms that contributed to her marginalization. By reassessing Bethune’s contributions, this research seeks to reinsert her work into the narrative of American architectural modernity.

Download

Share

COinS