Mary Dorothy Edwards
Mary Dorothy Edwards | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 February 1909 |
| Died | 7 September 1995 (aged 86) Nelson, New Zealand |
| Education | Bachelor of Architecture, University of Auckland 1932-1938 |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Practice | Public Works Department |
Mary Dorothy Edwards was a New Zealand architect, working primarily as a government architect in Auckland. She was the third woman to graduate from the University of Auckland School of Architecture.[1]
Biography
Mary Dorothy Edwards was born in Rhodesia on 7 February 1909, where her father worked as a mining engineer.[2][1] She returned to New Zealand after her father's death at the age of 17, settling in Dunedin.[2] Edwards had a brother who studied at Lincoln College.
In Dunedin Edwards worked for architect Eric Miller to gain her testimonials of study but the training was disrupted by the Depression.[3]
Edwards enrolled in the University of Auckland School of Architecture in 1932, graduating in 1938-1939.[1] There were only five people in her class and she became the third woman to graduate with a Bachelor of Architecture in New Zealand.[1] She was awarded the Amalgamated Brick Prize by the School of Architecture in 1934 for the best design in brick.[4]
Edwards took unpaid work with Charles Toole and Robert MacLaurin to complete her required hours for the Bachelor of Architecture.[4] After graduation she found employment with the Public Works Department in the architectural Division.[4] For six years Edwards worked on military projects for New Zealand and American forces. She designed naval and military barracks, camps, gunposts, lookouts, bomb depots and hospitals.[1]
Edwards became registered by the NZIA in 1940, following a nomination by Basil Hooper.[5] This also allowed her to gain membership to the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Edwards worked at the Public Works Department until 1954, when she moved to Auckland practice Gummer & Ford for seven years .[1] Edwards also worked at the Education Board before returning to work at the Public Works Department (later called Ministry of Works) in 1964.[5] She was placed in the housing division of the Ministry of Works, designing state houses in Northcote.[5] Edwards transferred to the architectural division in 1970, designing the Whangarei Health Camp.[5]
She was well known for her intricate pencil drawings and a large collection of her drawings are held at the University of Auckland.[2]
Edwards retired in August 1974 and moved to Nelson. She was an active member of the local NZIA branch in her retirement.[1] Edwards died in 1995.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cassie, Fiona (1993). "Women Architects are Drawing on Experience". Nelson Mail.
- 1 2 3 Cox, Elizabeth (October 2022). Making Space: A History of New Zealand Women in Architecture. Massey University Press. p. 51. ISBN 9781991016348.
- ↑ Cox, Elizabeth, ed. (2022). Making space: a history of New Zealand women in architecture. Auckland: Massey University Press. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-991016-34-8.
- 1 2 3 Mary Dorothy Edwards, File E26m, the Sheppard Collection. Architecture Archive, He Māra Mahara, University of Auckland.
- 1 2 3 4 Cox, Elizabeth, ed. (2022). Making space: a history of New Zealand women in architecture. Auckland: Massey University Press. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-991016-34-8.