Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architectural Collection

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish material from the Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architectural Collections must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Contact donor if material is used in any exhibit or publication. [see accession record for more detailed note.]

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary, Ms2011-074, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
4.2 Cubic Feet 2 Boxes 9 Tubes of Rolled Drawings 1 Oversized Folder
Creator:
Roque-Gourary, Dita, b.1915
Abstract:
Born in 1915 in St. Petersburg, Russia; Architect and founder of the Union of Women Architects in Belgium. Studied in Germany and Austria before emigrating to Belgium at the onset of World War II. She specialized in remodels of 19th century residences. Outspoken advocate for women in the profession. Collection consist of drawings, personal journals, business records, as well as published articles about the Union of Women Architects of Belgium and Roque-Gourary.
Language:
Materials are in French, German and Dutch.
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary, Ms2011-074, Special Collections, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains notebooks and sketchbooks from Roque-Gourary's childhood, documents and drawings related to her work with Jean Nicolet-Darcge as well as her private practice, and numerous publications of her work. In addition, one will find personal documents, speeches, and various ephemera relating to women in architecture. The majority of the collection is in French, however early grade and secondary school work is in German while articles from late in her career are written in Dutch.

Project/Client Name (location, date, project type) Collaborator (role) [Format - Ms=Manuscripts, Dr=Drawings, Ph=Photographs]

Biographical / historical:

Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary was born July 26, 1915 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her family fled the country following the revolution of 1917 and relocated to Naples, Italy. As a child, she studied abroad in Germany and Austria. When Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, Roque-Gourary was three tests away from receiving her architecture degree. She promptly left Vienna and transferred to La Cambre in Belgium to finish her studies. She remained in Belgium for the remainder of her career. Much of her work from 1941-1945 was destroyed in the occupation. From 1945-1948 she worked alongside architect Jean Nicolet-Darche until departing to form her own private practice. Roque-Gourary specialized in remodeling and modernizing 19th and 20th century residences during the reconstruction period.

In 1978, Roque-Gourary created the Union of Women Architects in Belgium and acted as president until 1983. She was an outspoken advocate for women in the profession and a noted speaker for The International Union of Women Architects (UIFA). Numerous articles and interviews are attributed to her work and she continued to promote the work of women in architecture until her retirement in 1984.

Acquisition information:
The Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architecture Collection was donated to Special Collections in September 2010.
Processing information:

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Judith (Dita) Roque-Gourary Architectural Collection took place in September and October of 2011.