Zina Bethune Collection on Louise Bethune

Item set

Title: Zina Bethune Collection on Louise Bethune
Description: Bethune: every woman her own architect Louise Blanchard Bethune (1856–1913) is widely considered to be the first woman to practice as a professional architect in the United States. This digital collection explores Louise Bethune’s life and work through photographs and architectural drawings selected from the Zina Bethune collection on Louise Bethune, circa 1860-196 2. Louise Bethune played a key role in the architectural firm that she founded, going well beyond simply designing buildings to supervising budgets and onsite work—a highly unusual role for women of the day. Louise let her work and deeds speak for her support of women’s right to work outside the home and to be equitably recompensed for their efforts. In her architecture, family life, and public and private behavior she spoke to a new generation of professional women. The Hotel Lafayette is by far the most significant Bethune structure. The building was initially conceived in 1899 to meet the anticipated demand from the 1901 Pan American Exposition. Its restoration in 2012 was enormously important for Buffalo. The first building in New York State to be saved through state and federal historic tax credits, its restoration coincided with the most substantial economic expansion the Queen City of the Lakes had witnessed in decades. Bethune’s restored opus has come to embody the Lady Architect’s finest work during the Queen City’s finest years and symbolizes what is to come. The bulk of The Zina Bethune collection on Louise Bethune collection was gifted to the University Archives by Sean Feeley (husband of Zina Bethune) in 2017, as facilitated by Kelly Hayes McAlonie. Additional materials were gifted to the University Archives by Kelly Hayes McAlonie and Jon Morris. The foundation of this collection rests with materials pertaining to Louise Bethune and her work as an architect. These include several portraits of Bethune, from approximately age 3 to 55; a typewritten biographical manuscript by Bethune written near the end of her life; her genealogy research of the Blanchard and Bethune families; and architectural plans for three of Bethune’s works in Buffalo, New York. The collection also documents Louise and Robert Bethune’s son, Dr. Charles William Bethune. For a complete description of the collection, please view the finding aid.
Subject: A selection of photographs and architectural drawings from the Zina Bethune collection on Louise Bethune, circa 1860-1962
Source: Zina Bethune Collection on Louise Bethune (MS-0262)
Publisher: University at Buffalo Libraries
Rights: University at Buffalo Libraries believes these works to be in the U.S. public domain. These works may not be in the public domain in other countries.
Format: Image
Language: English
Identifier: LIB-UA052
Rights Holder: Public Domain

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Blanchard family cabinet card album, page 2, undated
Page 2 of the Blanchard family cabinet card album, undated. Includes photographs of Dolson and Emmy Blanchard.
Louise Bethune as child, circa 1875
Black and white portrait of Louise Bethune as a child, seated. Page 26 of a tintype and cabinet card album, circa 1875.
Two men, circa 1875
Black and white photograph of two men, one seated, one standing. Page 13 of a tintype and cabinet card album, circa 1875.
Group portrait, circa 1875
Black and white photograph Louise Bethune, Robert Bethune, and two others. Page 12 of a tintype and cabinet card album, circa 1875.
Robert A. Bethune, circa 1875
Black and white photograph of Robert A. Bethune, standing. Page 9 of a tintype and cabinet card album, circa 1875.
Louise Bethune, circa 1875
Black and white portrait of Louise Bethune, seated. Page 8 of a tintype and cabinet card album, circa 1875.
Two men, circa 1875
Black and white photograph of two men, seated. Page 5 of a tintype and cabinet card album, circa 1875.
Louise Bethune and Frankie Sherman, circa 1875
Black and white photograph of Louise Bethune and Frankie Sherman from page 4 of a tintype and cabinet card album, circa 1875.
Child, circa 1875
Black and white photograph of an unidentified child, possibly Louise Bethune, circa 1875. Page 8 of a tintype and cabinet card album.
Louise Bethune playing with dog Max, circa 1910
Black and white photograph of Louise Bethune playing with dog Max, circa 1910.
Bethune family photograph album, page 61, circa 1912-1929
Page 61 of the Bethune family photograph album, circa 1912-1929. Contains portraits of family members, mostly of Charles W. Bethune.
Robert A. Bethune, circa 1890
Black and white photograph of Robert A. Bethune from page 11 of the Bethune family cabinet card album, circa 1890-1900.
Charles Bethune and Louise Bethune with Charles W. Bethune, Jr., circa 1895
Charles and Louise Bethune with Charles W. Bethune, Jr., black and white photograph, circa 1895. Louise Bethune, Charles Bethune and Charles Bethune, Jr. are pictured outside during winter.
Louise Bethune with Dog Max, 1910
Louise Bethune with Dog Max, black and white photograph, 1910. Louise Bethune is outside playing tug-o'-war with her dog Max.
Louise Bethune with Bicycle, circa 1890-1910
Louise Bethune with Bicycle, black and white photograph, circa 1890-1910. Louise Bethune is pictured standing next to a bicycle on the side of a country road.
Louise Bethune Seated in Living Room, circa 1910
Louise Bethune Seated in Living Room, black and white photograph, circa 1910. Louise Bethune is pictured holding an umbrella and sitting in a winged back chair in front of an unlit fireplace. Next to her is a briefcase and a pair of gloves.
Louise Bethune at Work, circa 1880-1890
Louise Bethune at Work, black and white photograph, circa 1880-1890. Louise Bethune is pictured sitting at a drafting table working on an architectural drawing.