Mary Lou Drosten 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 Mary Lou Drosten Architectural Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.

Summary

Extent:
9 Cubic Feet
Creator:
Kushner, Pinky, Rivard, Betsy Drosten, and Drosten, Mary Lou, 1910-1991
Abstract:
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Language:
English .

Background

Scope and content:

The Mary Lou Drosten Architectural Collection documents Mary Lou Drosten's personal and professional life as an architect. The collection contains Mary Lou Drosten's personal papers, including biographic information such as newspaper articles documenting Mary Lou Drosten's contraction of polio and her remarkable recovery. Mary Lou Drosten collected newspaper articles, advertisements, and other material on social inequality. Drosten's primary interest was women's rights, but she also collected materials on racial discrimination. Mary Lou Droston's professional papers include associations and committees such as the Association of Women in Architecture, Huntsville League of Women Voters, and Congress on American Women Leaders. In addition, Drosten maintained project records, including research materials, financial records, contracts, photographs, and detailed drawings.

The following is a list of architectural projects carried out by Mary Lou Drosten

Arrangement The Project Index is a way to organize the various formats of architectural records from the same project. The index is arranged alphabetically by client name or project name. It contains information, where available, about the location, date, project type, architect, collaborators, photographers, and formats for each project in the collection.

[Project Index link]

A Summary of the Project Index is listed below.

Biographical / historical:

Mary Lou Drosten was born on July 5, 1910 in St. Louis, Missouri. Drosten attended Washington University in St. Louis from 1928-1933. There, she received a B.A. in Architecture. After graduation, Drosten became a caseworker. In 1937, Drosten married Fred Drosten. Mary Lou Drosten and Fred Drosten had four children. Throughout her life, Drosten lived in St. Louis, MO; Oak Ridge, TN; Nicaro, Cuba; Chattanooga, TN; Huntsville, AL; and retired in St. Louis, MO. In Chattanooga, TN, Mary Lou owned Drosten Design and worked on many projects. Some projects of note include a building design for a dental surgeon (1934), 7-room residence for the Drosten family in Chevy Chase (1937), and proposal for a new hospital for polio in Des Moines (1942). Despite Drosten suffering from polio, she continued to work in the architectural field. Drosten died on November 16, 1991.

Acquisition information:
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Processing information:

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Mary Lou Drosten Architectural Collection was completed in March 2017.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in original order as detailed by the creator.