Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architectural Collection
Roque-Gourary, Dita, b.1915
Ms.2011.074
4.2 Cubic Feet
2 Boxes
9 Tubes of Rolled Drawings
1 Oversized Folder
1926-1981
Born in 1915 in St. Petersburg, Russia; Architect and founder of the Union of Women Architects in Belgium. Studied in Germany and Austria before emigrating to Belgium at the onset of World War II. She specialized in remodels of 19th century residences. Outspoken advocate for women in the profession. Collection consist of drawings, personal journals, business records, as well as published articles about the Union of Women Architects of Belgium and Roque-Gourary.
Materials are in French, German and Dutch.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish material from the Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architectural Collections must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Contact donor if material is used in any exhibit or publication. [see accession record for more detailed note.]
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary, Ms2011-074, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.
Acquisition Information
The Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architecture Collection was donated to Special Collections in September 2010.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architectural Collection took place in September and October of 2011.
Existence and Location of Copies
Some of this collection has been digitized and is available online.
Biography
Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary was born July 26, 1915 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her family fled the country following the revolution of 1917 and relocated to Naples, Italy. As a child, she studied abroad in Germany and Austria. When Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, Roque-Gourary was three tests away from receiving her architecture degree. She promptly left Vienna and transferred to La Cambre in Belgium to finish her studies. She remained in Belgium for the remainder of her career. Much of her work from 1941-1945 was destroyed in the occupation. From 1945-1948 she worked alongside architect Jean Nicolet-Darche until departing to form her own private practice. Roque-Gourary specialized in remodeling and modernizing 19th and 20th century residences during the reconstruction period.
In 1978, Roque-Gourary created the Union of Women Architects in Belgium and acted as president until 1983. She was an outspoken advocate for women in the profession and a noted speaker for The International Union of Women Architects (UIFA). Numerous articles and interviews are attributed to her work and she continued to promote the work of women in architecture until her retirement in 1984.
Scope and Content
The collection contains notebooks and sketchbooks from Roque-Gourary's childhood, documents and drawings related to her work with Jean Nicolet-Darcge as well as her private practice, and numerous publications of her work. In addition, one will find personal documents, speeches, and various ephemera relating to women in architecture. The majority of the collection is in French, however early grade and secondary school work is in German while articles from late in her career are written in Dutch.
Separated Materials
The following publications were cataloged separately in the Addison library catalog, and are available through the Special Collections Reading Room:
- Die Alte Deutsche Stadt [The Old German Town]
- Die Darstellung von Bauzeichnungen im Hochbau [The Presentation of Building Drawings]
- Bau Entwurfslehre [Construction Design Theory]
Architects
International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA)
Architectural drawings (visual works)
Women -- History
SERIES I: Personal PapersIdentification1Personal PoetryGerman.1Diaries/JournalsPoetry Journal, 1924-19261924-19261Poetry Journal, 1927-19281927-19281Journal, 1931-19401931-19401Journal, 1932-19371932-19371Student WorkClass Artwork39Folder 1Class notebook19401Primary School Report Cards1922-19311Secondary School course certificates 1933-19381Transfer documents and Diploma Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Architecture et des Arts Decoratifs de Belgique 1940-19411Photographs, Architectural social events1SERIES II: Professional PapersPublications"Architects J. Nicolet et R. Gourary." Architecture: Urbanisme-Habitation, Jan.-Mar. 1946: 18-19. Print.French.1J. -J. Stephane. "Quatre zones pour un grenier." Le Soir 27 Jan.1979. Print. 1"Union des Femmes Architectes de Belgique affiliee a l'U.I.F.A., ..." Perspectives Mar. 1979: 7-10. PrintFrench.1Danielle Leroy. "Reflexions sur le Metier de Femme Architecte." Batiment Oct. 1979: 56-58. PrintFrench.1Marianne Burton. "Les maisons des femmes architectes." Libelle Jan. 1980: 57-61. PrintFrench.1"Dialogue/Gresprek." Decors 1981: 82-83. Print.French.1Diane de Clopper. "Wij bouwen net zo goed als de mannen." Panorama May 1981: 20-21. Print. Dutch; Flemish.1"Dita Roque-Gourary specialiste en restauration/ Dita Roque-Gourary specialiste in vernieuwbouw." Bati Deco/Deco Bouw Apr. 1981: 52-59. Print. French.1Roger Lecut. "Plus de 400 Femmes Architectes en Belgique." G Magazine 1982: 18-19. Print. French.1Various Article Referencing Women Architects11st Response to Licensure Application in Belgium, 19411Professional Correspondence, 1946 1946 English.1Account Ledger, 1952-19701Conference Program, Union Internationale Des Femmes Architectes Exposent,19781Public Speeches, 1976 and 19821International Archive of Women in Architecture Newsletter [Fall 2002] includes personal correspondence with Milka Bliznakov20021SERIES III: Project RecordsScope and ContentProject/Client Name (location, date, project type) Collaborator (role) [Format - Ms=Manuscripts, Dr=Drawings, Ph=Photographs]
Michelin Tire, Rue Gustave Gibon (Zuen, Belgium, 1947, Commercial) Collaborator Jean Nicolet [Dr]1J.B. de Mol. Mrs. J.B. de Mol Residence (St. Gilles, Belgium, 1947 Residence) Collaborator Jean Nicolet [Dr]1J.B. Decant, J.B. Decant Residence (Waterloo, Belgium, 1947 Residence) Collaborator Jean Nicolet [Dr]110Mr. and Mrs. Gaullet, Project of a Semi-Detached House (Wasmuel, Belgium, 1949 Residence) Collaborator Jean Nicolet [Dr]1Mr. and Mrs. G. Van Den Hecke, Van Den Hecke Residence (Brussels, Belgium, 1950 Residence [Dr]51Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Godfriaux, Transformation of Store on Adolphe Maxiaan Street (Brussels, Belgium, 1952 Commercial) [Dr]1Mr. and Mrs. J. de Ridder, Remodel of Office (Brussels, Belgium, 1954 Commercial) [Dr]1Design for Israel Fair in Brussels (Brussels, Belgium, 1954 Commercial); Photographer unknown [Dr,Ph]1Mrs. Wulliger, Villa Construction (Schaerbeek, Belgium, 1954 Residence) [Ms, Dr]1Mr. and Mrs. J Brysz, Brysz Residence (Brussels, Belgium 1955 Residence) [Ms, Dr]178Ms. Zmigrod, Zmigrod Residence/Investment Property (Brussels, Belgium 1956 Residence) [Ms, Dr]1Mr. and Mrs. Ch. Perelman, Perelman Residence (Brussels, Belgium 1950-1970 Residence) [Ms, Dr, Ph]62Apartment Remodel Rue Faider, n.d. 4Avery Residence, (n.d.) 3Ms. Fourvel, Fourvel Pavillion (n.d. Residential) [Dr]2Ms. Fuss, Door Mantle Design Detail (n.d.) [Dr]2Hirsh Department Store (Brussels, Belgium, n.d. Commercial) [Dr]2Modification of an Old Mansion (Brussels, Belgium n.d. Residential) [Dr, Ph]2Project d'un Centre Hotelier et d'Habitation (n.d.) [Dr]9Project of a Hotel and Residential Center (n.d) [Dr]2Project of Houses for the Michelin Society of Zuen (Zuen, Belgium n.d. Residential) [Dr]2Project to Realize Removable Housing (Ardennes, France n.d. Residential) [Dr]2Rassco Settlement (Tel Aviv North, Isreal, n.d. Residential) [Dr]2Residence Remodel, Hewitt Bay Park, NY, n.d. 11210Shoham Store Remodel on Ravenstein Street (Brssels, Belgium) [Dr]29Transformation and Arrangements in 19th Century Patrician House (Brussles, Belgium, n.d. Residential) [Dr]2Unidentified Projects and Details (n.d.) [Dr]2