The collection is open to research.
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Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], M. Rosaria Piomelli Architectural Collection, Ms1995-007, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
The M. Rosaria Piomelli Architectural Collection was donated to Special Collections in 1995, 2002, and 2006.
Some of this collection has been digitized and is available online.
The processing, arrangement, and description of the M. Rosaria Piomelli Architectural Collection commenced and was completed in October 1995. Additions to the collection were integrated in March 2011.
M. Rosaria Piomelli (born Agrisano) was born in Naples, Italy, on October 24, 1937. She was educated at the Instituto d'Arte (1954, Bachelor of Arts) and Accedemia d'Arte (Master of Arts, 1955) of Naples, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1960, Bachelor of Architecture). Through the 1960s and 1970s she worked at various architects offices in Italy, New York, and the Netherlands, including I. M. Pei and Partners from 1971 to 1974 as a project architect. In 1974 she opened her own office in New York City.
From 1971 to 1976 Piomelli taught at the City College of New York School of Architecture as Adjunct Associate Professor, and from 1974 to 1979 taught at the Pratt Institute, where she served as Chair of the Faculty from 1976 to 1979. In 1979 she returned to CCNY as a Distinguished Professor, and was appointed Dean of the CCNY School of Architecture in 1980, becoming the first woman to hold a deanship of any school of architecture in the United States. She served in this position until 1983. In 1984 she was Visiting Distinguished Professor at the University of California at Berkeley, and from 1985 to the present she has had the position of full Professor at CCNY.
Piomelli has spent much of her career promoting the work of women in architecture. In 1974, as director the Equal Opportunity Committee for the American Institute of Architects, she organized an exhibit of women architects' work. This exhibit generated a great amount of interest in the standing of women in the profession. She served as a member of the Board of Advisors for the International Archive of Women in Architecture from 1985 to 1995.
Piomelli earned her professional licensure when she became a registered architect of New York State in 1969. She became a member of the American Institute of Architects in 1970 and served on various AIA committees throughout the 1970s, including Commisioner of the Schools of Architecture Committee of the New York City chapter from 1977 to 1979, and Director of the New York City Executive Committee from 1977 to 1979.
Publications by Piomelli include "Canary Wharf: London in the Third Millenium" in the March 1991 issue of Zodiac and as translator (from English to Italian) for Jan Gehl's Vitta in Citta (1992). Publications about Piomelli include information about her work in Susana Torre's Women in American Architecture (1977) and Insegnare L'Architettura, by M. Vegeto (1994).
The collection consists of architectural drawings, correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, and files that chronicle the life and career of architect M. Rosaria Piomelli. The materials particularly focus on her architectural projects, mostly in the New York City area, and her tenure as head of the School of Architecture at the City College of New York from 1980 to 1983. Some of the literature and correspondence is in Italian.
This collection is arranged by subject into series and subseries, and subdivided alphabetically or chronologically.
The guide to the M. Rosaria Piomelli Architectural Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Interview focuses on the problems women face in academia, and recounts times Piomelli had faced discrimination when she taught at CCNY.
Article about the AIA exhibit mounted by Piomelli at the AIA building in New York City.
Article about Piomelli being named the School of Architecture and Urban Studies first woman dean.
Article features Piomelli and the women in architecture exhibit she organized, "Women in Architecture, An Exhibition of Work by Women."
Article about the building's development which Piomelli owned and renovated.
Correspondence relating to Artists Housing Coalition, Curriculum Vitae (c. 1978), artist's certification, Who's Who of American Women, AIA's exhibit on women in architecture, research proposals, tenure for Susana Torre, recommendation requests, curriculum vitae for various people, photocopies of articles, design reviews of several projects. Includes post cards and photographs. Many items in Italian.
Correspondence relating, but not limited, to faculty review, job notices, the Chancellor Distinguished Lectureship at the University of California at Berkeley, list of projects undertaken in private practice, the Deanship of School of Architecture, conference participation, consulting work for hotel design for JFK airport, requests for letters of recommendations, professional organizations, personal topics, Brooklyn Museum Master Plan Design Competition, grants, and photocopies of newspaper and magazine articles. Some photographs and post cards. Some correspondence in Italian.
Cassettes. Description on front states: Rosaria Piomelli, Blanche van Ginkel, Professor Rodriguez; Fani Hansen; Professor Bliznakov.
Items related to the Seeley G. Mudd Learning Center [Library]. Includes numerous photographs of interior views, exterior views, and drawings. This is work that Piomelli did in the office of Warner, Burns, Toan & Lunde, Architects, of New York City.
Building was converted to apartments. Materials present include building permit, newspaper article about school, photographs, and literature about building plans.