Episode 82: Anna Wagner Keichline
On May 24, 1889, in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania Anna Wagner Keichline was born. Her parents were John and Sarah Wagner Keichline. From a young age, Anna knew that she loved to build, she was known for her woodwork. After a brief stint at Pennsylvania State College, Anna would attend Cornell University. At Cornell, Anna was really popular and really busy. Once she graduated, Anna would start her own firm back in her hometown of Bellefonte. In 1920, Pennsylvania has a new law that required for those to practice architecture they must become licensed. To continue her practice, Anna buckled down and became the first woman to become licensed in the state of Pennsylvania. In the late 1920s, Anna would invent the K-brick, which is a lightweight clay brick that is used for hollow-wall construction. In 1931, the American Ceramic Society honored Anna for the invention of the K-brick. Anna would invent several other things and receive many patents. One noted below is her patent for kitchen cabinetry which was patented in 1926. On February 5, 1943, Anna passed away. Although she never married or had kids, her legacy still exists today.
Caryatid: Carmen Vann
Carmen Vann is the Regional Project Executive of BNB Builders, which is a construction firm that focuses on buildings related to the life sciences, based out of the San Diego Area. Read more about her work in the article mentioned in the episode: https://sdarchitecture.org/building-a-strong-foundation-for-women-in-construction-one-brick-at-a-time/
References
Lewis, Anna M. “Zaha Hadid” Women of Steel and Stone: 22 Inspirational Architects, Engineers, and Landscape Designers. United States: Chicago Review Press, 2017.
Images: Lichtman, Sarah A. “Pioneering Women of American Architecture.” Pioneering Women of American Architecture, uknown, pioneeringwomen.bwaf.org/anna-wagner-keychain/.
