Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Mary Lou Drosten Architectural Collection
Kushner, Pinky
Rivard, Betsy Drosten
Drosten, Mary Lou, 1910-1991
Ms.2016.008
9 Cubic Feet
n.d.
.
English
.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish material from Mary Lou Drosten Architectural Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Acquisition Information
.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Mary Lou Drosten Architectural Collection was completed in March 2017.
Biographical / Historical
Mary Lou Drosten was born on July 5, 1910 in St. Louis, Missouri. Drosten attended Washington University in St. Louis from 1928-1933. There, she received a B.A. in Architecture. After graduation, Drosten became a caseworker. In 1937, Drosten married Fred Drosten. Mary Lou Drosten and Fred Drosten had four children. Throughout her life, Drosten lived in St. Louis, MO; Oak Ridge, TN; Nicaro, Cuba; Chattanooga, TN; Huntsville, AL; and retired in St. Louis, MO. In Chattanooga, TN, Mary Lou owned Drosten Design and worked on many projects. Some projects of note include a building design for a dental surgeon (1934), 7-room residence for the Drosten family in Chevy Chase (1937), and proposal for a new hospital for polio in Des Moines (1942). Despite Drosten suffering from polio, she continued to work in the architectural field. Drosten died on November 16, 1991.
Scope and Content
The Mary Lou Drosten Architectural Collection documents Mary Lou Drosten's personal and professional life as an architect. The collection contains Mary Lou Drosten's personal papers, including biographic information such as newspaper articles documenting Mary Lou Drosten's contraction of polio and her remarkable recovery. Mary Lou Drosten collected newspaper articles, advertisements, and other material on social inequality. Drosten's primary interest was women's rights, but she also collected materials on racial discrimination. Mary Lou Droston's professional papers include associations and committees such as the Association of Women in Architecture, Huntsville League of Women Voters, and Congress on American Women Leaders. In addition, Drosten maintained project records, including research materials, financial records, contracts, photographs, and detailed drawings.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in original order as detailed by the creator.
Separated Materials
The following books were separated from the collection to be cataloged for the Rare Book Collection:
Neutra, R. Survival Through Design, 1969.
Wright, F.L. An American Architecture.
Wright, F.L. The Natural House.
The 1940 Book of Small Houses.
House & Gardens New Complete Guide to Interior Decoration.
Doctor's Offices.<
International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA)
History of Women in Architecture
Women-owned architectural firms
Women architects -- Tennessee
Women architects -- Missouri
Kushner, Pinky
Rivard, Betsy Drosten
Series I: Personal PapersBiographical InformationBiography - Mary Lou Drosten11Biographies/"Who's Who?"12Employment/Application Letters13Drosten Residence in Huntsville14Architectural Projects List (by Family)15Student WorkBeginning 1930, Design etc.16Math and Architecture17Materials18Architecture History19Ornament110Elements of Architecture111Geology112Playground Course113History of Art114Architecture Course Notes115Washington University, Architecture 42A116Washington University: Working Drawings117Washington University: Sketches for Advanced Design Project118Schoolhouse for the Twenty-first Century119Washington University [Alumni Files]120-22Civic SocietyChattanooga Community Model City Affairs123Huntsville Model Homes124Huntsville Sketches125The City126Model City127Great Decisions128Huntsville Council on Human Relations129Huntsville Arts League and Museum Association130Civic Engagement/LTE's Clippings21Huntsville League of Women Voters22Architecture Talks/Model City23Series II: Professional PapersAssociations and CommitteesWashington D.C., 197424AIA National Convention, 197525AIA Bulletins26AIA Meeting, St. Louis27AIA28AIA Membership Committee29AIA Public Relationship Committee210AIA Bus Tours211-12AIA Tours213AIA Speakers214AIA Meeting-St. Louis215Alpha Alpha Gamma-AWA216History of AWA217Los Angeles Chapter-AWA218Alpha Alpha Gamma & AIA St. Louis, Monsanto219Alpha Alpha Gamma: Correspondence220Association of Women in Architecture221Architecture in St. Louis: Twelve Historic Structures222-23Architecture in St. Louis: Twelve Contemporary Buildings224Women's Architectural League-President31-2Women's Architectural League33Women's Architectural League-Speaker's Bureau34ConferencesInternational Design Conference in Aspen (1964)35-6International Design Conference in Aspen (1966)37Aspen 1966-Notes38International Design Conference (1968)39Congress on American Women Leaders, 1962310WritingsRichard Neutra311Union Station Supplement to WAL's "Historic Structures"312M.L.'s Chapter for AIA Book on St. Louis Architecture313Research NotesNotes for "Survival Through Design"314Notes for "Doctor's Offices and Clinics: Medical and Dental"315Notes for "The Natural House"316An American Architecture317Reference FilesArticles on Architecture314-21H. May Steinmesch: Architect 1930s41St. Louis Building Code P.W. Martin Room 208 City Hall42AEC Architecture in St. Louis43St. Louis EADs Bridge., 1904, W.F., Brick, Proetz44Knoll au Louvre 197245The Stephens Chairs - Knoll International46Knoll Index of Contemporary Design47Construction48-9Face Brick Tables410Yellow Pine Timbers Booklet411Patios412Decorating Planning413Pencil Sketching-Watson414Worlds Fair Houses - 1932-1933, 1940415"House of the Modern Age": Park Avenue at Thirty-ninth Street, New York"416The Architectural Forum: Including "Building Money"417House & Home, Sept. 1936418"House Beautiful Building Manual: New Produces, Plans, Designs", Spring 1936419Planning and Remodeling Bathrooms420Your Second Home: Masonite Corporation421Open House: Reviewing Your New Wood422Panelfold Doors Pamphlet, n.d.10General Specifications for Your New Home, n.d.10Crane: Modern Kitchen Equipment, n.d.10Home Planners Inc, "Good Details", n.d.8Series III: Office RecordsArchitecture Notes422Mary Lou Drosten: Design423Drosten Designs424Drosten Design Construction Notes425Construction Photos (project unknown), May 1962 426Series IV: Project RecordsScope and ContentsThe following is a list of architectural projects carried out by Mary Lou Drosten
Arrangement
The Project Index is a way to organize the various formats of architectural records from the same project. The index is arranged alphabetically by client name or project name. It contains information, where available, about the location, date, project type, architect, collaborators, photographers, and formats for each project in the collection.
[Project Index link]
A Summary of the Project Index is listed below.
Bodley, Don and Judy (3790 Cuscawilla Trail, Chattanooga, TN; 1964; bathroom remodel)427Bodley, Don and Judy (3003 Ozark Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1965-1968; interior design)427Bomze, Howard (6942 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1975; landscape)428Bomze, Howard (6942 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1976; screened porch)7Brigham Jr., H.F. (4 Narraganset, Ladue, MO; 1976; residence addition)429Brock Construction Co. (Chattanooga, TN; 1962; exterior aesthetic suggestions)430Brownlee, Roland (939 Talley Road, Chattanooga, Tn; 1962; garden, terrace and interior design)51-2Burgess, Hubert (1634 Greenhills Drive, Hixson, TN; 1964; interior design)53Bus shelter (Stuart Heights Garden Club, Chattanooga, TN; 1964; proposed bus shelter design)54Cherry, James D (7425 Kingsbury, Uniersity City, MO; 1975; garden design)55Children's Clinic (Green & Miller, 304 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN; 1956; design and oversight of construction)56-915Community Garden (South Side, 6600 block of Delmar Blvd, University City, MO; 1977; proposed garden for vacant lot)51110Chattanooga Unitarian Church510Crenshaw Clinic (St. Louis, MO; 1934; dental clinic (first job))7Davis, Robert S. (6911 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1979; kitchen renovation)512Derthick & Henley (Chattanooga architectural firm; 1962; drafting job, proposed bell tower for methodist church)513Dorris, Andrew and Barbara (6370 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1977; foundation planting)514-1510Drosten, Fred and Mary Lou (46 Rye Lane, St. Louis MO; 1938; architect's residence)516-218913Drosten, Fred and Mary Lou (2883 Stuart Terrace, Chattanooga, TN; 1955; architect's residence)522-3681113Drosten, Fred and Mary Lou (945 Old Bonhomme Rd, University City, MO; 1979; addition to architect's home)6111Falkowski, Edward and Evelyn (2206 East Governors Drive, Huntsville, AL; 1966; interior/exterior decoration)6211Folts, Bishop, and Thomas Office (Provident Building, Chattanooga, TN)63Gibson, Raymond (Regal and Berkeley Red Bank, TN; 1964; plan revisions)641113Graham, Dr. & Mrs. Frank B. (211 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1958; sketches drive & residence)65-6Gronaua, Drs. Axel and Marianna (7062 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1975; kitchen flooring)67Harford, Dr. and Mrs. Carl G. (6940 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1970; porch and deck)68-9Harford, Dr. and Mrs. Carl G. (6940 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1978; kitchen renovation)61010Hayden, Mr. and Mrs. Donald (2918 Nurick Drive, Chattanooga, TN; 1962; garage change and repairs)611Hayes, Tom & Paula (6926 Dartmouth Avenue, University City, MO; 1978; double decker screen porch)7Hayes, Tom & Paula (6926 Dartmouth Avenue, University City, MO; 1974; kitchen and bathroom)612Kruesi, Paul R. (302 Arrow Drive, Signal Mountain, TN; 1962; consultant and figures)613Kushner, Peter and Pinky (2633 Harris St., Eugene, OR; 1978; suggested revisions (not executed))10Levine, Charles (Altamont Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1957; residence)61412Livingston, Dr. and Mrs Phillip (111 Provident Building, Chattanooga, TN; 1960; interior design of medical office)61514Livingston, Dr. and Mrs Phillip (1718 Minnekahda Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1956; overseer for Richard Neutra project; interior design of medical office; cd of letters w/ Neutra)616-19Loeffel, Dr. Ellen (Rooms 201-211, 425 DeBaliviere, St. Louise, MO; 1945; interior design of medical office)620Marsh, Mr. and Mrs. Fred (Carroll Lane, Chattanooga, TN; 1959; plan preparation)62112Memorial Baptist Church (Red Bank, TN; 1959; sketches, classrooms, etc)622Metcalf, Richard P. and Margaret (346 East Drive, Oak Ridge, TN; 1964; remodel w/ balcony & interior design)623Miller, Dr. Robert T. (Minnekahda Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1957; house design)62612Nelson, Mrs. Anita (Lancaster Avenue, Red Bank, TN; 1963; house placement)62711Oak Ridge Township, Tennessee (Oak Ridge, TN; 1948-50; high school renovation)624-25Poss, Mr. and Mrs. H.M. (319 Buena Vista Drive, Chattanooga, TN; 1962; rainwater drainage and patio)62813Rivard, Loren and Caroline (Baltimore, MD; 1977; proposed renovation)629Robinson, W.W. Mr. and Mrs. (Forest Park Drive, Signal Mountain, TN; 1963; interior design)630Rudner, Dr. and Mrs. Richard (6939 Waterman Avenue, University City, MO; 1977; landscape plans)6317Rust, Mr. and Mrs. Jack (102 Windmere Chattanooga, TN; 1965; bathroom remodel)632Shavin, Seymour and Gerte (334 North Crest Road, Chattanooga, TN; 1977; interior design for Wright house)633Shearer, Dr. Wayne (306 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN; 1963; optometric clinic)634-3515Shearer, Dr. Wayne (122 Valley Brook Road, Hixson, TN; 1965; consultation on house design)6367Solomon, Jay and Rosalind (2932 Folts Drive, Chattanooga, TN; 1958; remodel for residence)637Sotlongs Tennis Court (unknown; 1962; Tennis court)638Thomas, Elmer (1111 and 1113 East Third Street Chattanooga, TN; 1958-63; commercial building consultation)63911Trundle, Dr. Frank (2943 Folts Circle, Chattanooga, TN; 1961; residential design)640-41712Weil, Mark L. (1201 Westmoreland Ave., SE Huntsville, AL; 1967; landscape design)643Weinberg, Morris and Janie Mae (8601 Clarendon Lane, Hixson, TN; 1964; addition to residence)642