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Perspectives | October 19, 2024

First of Her Kind: The Trailblazing Life of Beverly Lorraine Greene

By R. Kofi Bempong

Beverly Lorraine Greene, the first African American woman licensed as an architect in the U.S., broke barriers in a field dominated by exclusion. From Chicago to Paris, her groundbreaking work on projects like UNESCO Headquarters and Stuyvesant Town paved the way for future generations.

Image of Beverly L. Greene

 

The struggle to claim a rightful place in spaces built to exclude is all too familiar for many. The barriers are deeply ingrained, and success can often feel like an act of defiance. For generations, people of color have had to force open doors long bolted shut, entering professions once guarded by invisible walls of privilege. Beverly Lorraine Greene’s story is a quintessential reflection of this relentless pursuit. 

 

Born in 1915 in Chicago—a city of towering architectural dreams but entrenched racial and gender barriers—Greene became the first African American woman licensed as an architect in the United States. She didn’t just navigate a field dominated by white men; she reshaped it, proving that brilliance and determination could break through even the thickest walls of exclusion.

Aerial view of downtown Chicago's skyline in the 1940s, showcasing prominent buildings and urban architecture.
“Downtown Chicago, 1940s” by the Chicago Architectural Photographing Company, courtesy of the Newberry Library. Available at Wikimedia Commons. Licensed for reuse under Newberry Library Terms.

Though her career was tragically cut short, Greene’s life illustrates how personal ambition can intersect with—and challenge—the larger social and cultural forces of mid-20th century America. Her story is one of overcoming obstacles, driven by perseverance, intellectual rigor, and creative brilliance.

 

Growing up in segregated America, Greene experienced the harsh realities of racism and prejudice firsthand. Yet her family, part of the Great Migration, was deeply committed to education as a path to empowerment. Her parents were determined to provide her with opportunities that defied the limitations imposed on Black Americans. Chicago, though segregated, nurtured a vibrant Black middle class and a strong sense of cultural pride, supported by institutions like the Chicago Defender, which championed racial progress and uplift.

 

In this environment, Greene’s passion for architecture emerged early. At the time, architecture was not only a male-dominated field; black representation was nearly invisible, like a shadow on the margins. Yet her determination drove her to pursue a career in design. She enrolled at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, earning her undergraduate degree in 1936. A year later, she made history as one of the first Black women to earn a master’s degree in architecture.

Black-and-white photo of the Ida B. Wells Homes in Chicago, 1941, with pedestrians walking in the foreground.
Ida B. Wells Homes, Chicago, built by the Chicago Housing Authority from 1939 to 1941. Photo by Russell Lee in 1941, part of the U.S. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Collection, Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

After earning her graduate degree, Greene briefly worked for the Chicago Housing Authority, focusing on housing solutions for marginalized communities — a subject that would remain central to her career. However, opportunities for Black women in architecture were scarce. Despite her impressive credentials, the constraints of segregation meant that professional opportunities remained limited.

In 1942, Greene broke new ground by becoming the first African American woman licensed as an architect in the United States, but her challenges were far from over. The architecture world of the 1940s was rife with systemic racism and sexism, severely limiting her prospects. Rather than retreat, Greene moved to New York City in 1945, drawn to its post-war expansion and growing opportunities in public housing and urban development. Although racial discrimination persisted, New York offered a more dynamic landscape for advancement. Greene soon earned a fellowship from Columbia University to pursue further graduate work in urban planning.

Black-and-white photo of UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower visible in the background, February 1962.
“Exterior view of the Salle des Pas Perdus at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 1962” by Dominique Roger, courtesy of UNESCO Archives. Available at Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO.

 

New York proved to be a turning point in Greene’s career. She worked on key public projects alongside Isadore Rosenfield, contributing to the city’s transforming urban fabric. Her most prominent role, however, came in the design of the UNESCO United Nations Headquarters in Paris, where she collaborated with architectural giants like Wallace K. Harrison and Le Corbusier. This high-profile project spotlighted Greene’s talent and aligned her with the global aspirations of modern architecture.

 

 

 

Greene also left her mark on public housing projects like Stuyvesant Town—ironically designed to house returning WWII veterans while shutting out Black residents, a glaring symbol of the era’s systemic racism. Her work in public housing highlighted her belief that architecture could shape not just physical spaces but the social fabric of cities. Beyond her professional achievements, Greene was active in the civil rights movement, advocating for greater diversity and inclusion in the architecture practice.

Black-and-white photo of Stuyvesant Town apartment buildings in New York City, taken in 1951, with a grassy field and trees in the foreground.
“Stuyvesant Town, 14th St., New York City, 1951” from the Gottscho-Schleisner Collection, courtesy of the Library of Congress. Available at Wikimedia Commons. No known restrictions on publication.

Beverly Lorraine Greene’s life was one of many firsts: the first Black woman licensed as an architect in America and one of the few African American architects of her time to contribute to internationally significant projects like the UNESCO House. She navigated and dismantled entrenched racial and gender barriers, leaving behind a blueprint for future generations.

 

Beverly’s life was short, but her legacy remains potent, and her influence rings true throughout history. Greene’s journey is an emphatic reminder of the essence of persistence and courage in the face of adversity. Today, we remember Beverly Green for her contributions to architecture, design, and Black empowerment. We recognize her as a trailblazer who paved the way for future architects of color. Like the buildings she helped design, her life symbolizes strength and resilience.