The First Professional

Louise Blanchard Bethune (1856–1913)

Louise wasn't interested in being a "hobbyist." She was the first American woman to work as a professional architect, refusing to be treated as anything less than an equal to her male peers.

Why She’s a Konstellation Icon:

• Equal Pay Pioneer: She famously refused to enter a design competition for the 1893 World's Fair because the prize money for women was lower than for men.

• The Hotel Lafayette: Her masterpiece in Buffalo, NY, is a landmark of French Renaissance style that required deep knowledge of structural masonry.