Architect of Beauty - California's First Female Architect

The first woman admitted into the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Julia Morgan, designed an astounding 700 buildings during her career. What makes Ms. Morgan was also California's first female architect.
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

The first woman admitted into the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Julia Morgan, designed an astounding 700 buildings during her career. What makes Ms. Morgan's life truly groundbreaking was that she was also California's first female architect.

Morgan discovered architecture from architect Pierre LeBrun, a cousin, and interned with architect Bernard Maybeck while studying Civil Engineering at the University of California. Upon graduating she fought for three years to become the first female inductee into the Ecole des Beaux arts before returning to the Bay Area. Two years before the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake she started her own office and during the firm's forty five-year run she shared all her profits with her staff.

Author John Mark Wilson has written a tribute to her entitled Julia Morgan: Architect of Beauty showcasing her career which included Hearst Castle, the Los Angeles Examiner Building and the Riverside Art Museum.

Next Thursday, Wilson will be at the Sausalito Women's Club, whose clubhouse was designed by Morgan in 1918 for $5,800. He will present a slideshow of some of the architects finest buildings. In true refined manner, dessert and sherry will be served.

2009-10-17-boutelle_032_morgan_sm.jpg

2009-10-17-boutelle_228_wyntoon_tea_sm.jpg

Popular in the Community

Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE