Eleanor Manning O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Eleanor Manning O'Connor (July 24, 1884 – July 12, 1973) was an American
architect and educator passionate about the creation of decent public housing for all.
She attended the MIT and graduated with an S.B. degree in 1906.
She cut short the trip to accept an offer of partnership from Howe and joined the firm calling themselves Howe and Manning,
America's fourth firm of female architects.
The firm frequently worked on remodeling and renovating outdated structures and O'Connor coined the term "renovising" to describe their work.
In the 1920s O'Connor worked with Lois Howe and other architects on the Village of Mariemont
, a planned community in Hamilton County, Ohio
.
During this period one of her major works was a commission from WPA
for low-cost housing in an Irish neighborhood in South Boston called the Old Harbor Housing Project
, constructed 1933-1938. She worked with other architects in a collaboration known as the Seventeen Associated Architects. This project, consisting of three story apartments and two story townhouses was distinguished for its residential appeal as compared to the sterile atmosphere of most public housing. Biographer Doris Cole says that O'Connor was the partner most concerned about social issues and her concerns were reflected the detailing, choice of materials and attention to proportion that contribute to the appeal of the project. Subsequently, O'Connor served on numerous housing commissions and councils at the city, state and national levels.
as a Special Instructor of Architecture and later of Housing, a position that she held for 50 years
. During the 1930s she also taught at Pine Manor Junior College
, Chamberlain School for Retailing and Garland College
.
She lectured frequently in the New England area on housing throughout her career.
, founder of the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation. At the foundation, she championed the causes of women and encouraged women with appropriate aptitudes to enter into the fields of engineering, medicines and science,
fields that had been dominated by men.
O'Connor died in Mexico in 1973 while researching Indian cultures and is buried beside her husband in Newport Beach, California
. She was survived by O'Connor's engineer son, Chadwell O'Connor
, an Academy Award winner who designed the O'Connor Fluid-Head camera tripod.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
architect and educator passionate about the creation of decent public housing for all.
Early life and education
Eleanor Manning O'Connor was born in 1884 to Irish immigrant parents, Delia Josephine Grady and James Manning, a building contractor in Lynn, MassachusettsLynn, Massachusetts
Lynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
She attended the MIT and graduated with an S.B. degree in 1906.
Architectural practice
Two years after graduation, O'Connor accepted a position as a draftsman with another woman architect and MIT graduate, Lois Lilley Howe. In 1912 she took an extended leave of absence and traveled in Europe with her associate and classmate Eliza J. Newkirk Rogers, creating watercolors of the buildings she observed.She cut short the trip to accept an offer of partnership from Howe and joined the firm calling themselves Howe and Manning,
America's fourth firm of female architects.
The firm frequently worked on remodeling and renovating outdated structures and O'Connor coined the term "renovising" to describe their work.
In the 1920s O'Connor worked with Lois Howe and other architects on the Village of Mariemont
Mariemont Historic District (Mariemont, Ohio)
Mariemont Historic District and Village of Mariemont are one or two overlapping historic districts in Mariemont, Ohio.Mariemont Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1979. It contains 180 contributing buildings...
, a planned community in Hamilton County, Ohio
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
.
During this period one of her major works was a commission from WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
for low-cost housing in an Irish neighborhood in South Boston called the Old Harbor Housing Project
Old Harbor Housing Project
The Old Harbor Housing Project, formally known as the Mary Ellen McCormack Project, is a housing project opposite Carson Beach in South Boston, Massachusetts.-History:...
, constructed 1933-1938. She worked with other architects in a collaboration known as the Seventeen Associated Architects. This project, consisting of three story apartments and two story townhouses was distinguished for its residential appeal as compared to the sterile atmosphere of most public housing. Biographer Doris Cole says that O'Connor was the partner most concerned about social issues and her concerns were reflected the detailing, choice of materials and attention to proportion that contribute to the appeal of the project. Subsequently, O'Connor served on numerous housing commissions and councils at the city, state and national levels.
Educator
After WWI, O'Connor began lecturing Simmons CollegeSimmons College (Massachusetts)
Simmons College, established in 1899, is a private women's undergraduate college and private co-educational graduate school in Boston, Massachusetts.-History:Simmons was founded in 1899 with a bequest by John Simmons a wealthy clothing manufacturer in Boston...
as a Special Instructor of Architecture and later of Housing, a position that she held for 50 years
. During the 1930s she also taught at Pine Manor Junior College
Pine Manor College
Pine Manor College is a private, liberal arts women's college located in Chestnut Hill, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1911 and currently serves almost 500 students, 75% of whom live on the campus.-Most diverse:...
, Chamberlain School for Retailing and Garland College
Garland Junior College
Garland Junior College was a liberal arts women's college in Boston, Massachusetts. Mary Garland established the Garland Kindergarten Training School in 1872 on Chestnut Street in Boston's Beacon Hill. By 1903, the school had expanded its curriculum to include home economics, and was renamed the...
.
She lectured frequently in the New England area on housing throughout her career.
Collaboration with Johnson O'Connor
In 1931, Eleanor Manning married the distinguished American psychometrician, researcher, and educator Johnson O'ConnorJohnson O'Connor
Johnson O'Connor was an American psychometrician, researcher, and educator. He is most remembered as a pioneer in the study of aptitude testing and as an advocate for the importance of vocabulary....
, founder of the Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation. At the foundation, she championed the causes of women and encouraged women with appropriate aptitudes to enter into the fields of engineering, medicines and science,
fields that had been dominated by men.
O'Connor died in Mexico in 1973 while researching Indian cultures and is buried beside her husband in Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
. She was survived by O'Connor's engineer son, Chadwell O'Connor
Chadwell O'Connor
Chad O'Connor redirects here.Chadwell O'Connor was an American inventor and steam engine enthusiast. He is most remembered as the inventor of the fluid-damped camera head, an achievement for which he won an Academy Award in 1992.-Early life and education:Chadwell O'Connor came from a distinguished...
, an Academy Award winner who designed the O'Connor Fluid-Head camera tripod.
Writings
- Eleanor Manning, "Architecture as a Profession for Women", "Simmons Review", Simmons College, April, 1934, 71-75
- Eleanor Manning, "Buildings for the National Welfare", National Altrusan, March, 1935.