Character

Anna Wagner Keichline

b. Bellefonte, Pensilvania — d. 1943

Period of activity: 1912 — 1940

Geographical classification: America > United States

Socio-cultural movements

Late modern period / Contemporary period > Feminism > Suffragism

Historical milestones > World War I

Groups by dedication

Technologists > Architects

Technologists > Inventors

Activists > Suffragettes / Suffragists

Context of feminine creation

She can be linked to other contemporary women architects such as:

-Louise Blanchard Bethune (the first American professional architect and one of the first to use a steel-framed concrete structure).

-Katharine Cotheal Budd (a pioneering and renowned American architect. In a career spanning over 40 years, she designed houses, mansions, cottages, community buildings, schools and hotels, for which she designed not only the exterior but also the interior and even the furnishings).

-Annie Rockfellow (her buildings were based on and inspired by regional styles including the Pueblo Revival and Spanish Mission Revival).

-Josephine Wright Chapman (an American architect with a reputation in Boston and New York. She also set up her own practice in Boston in 1897 as part of a cooperative of women artists called Grundman Studios).

-Theodate Pope Riddle (a renowned self-taught American architect of the 19th century).

-Emily Williams (one of the first female architects in San Jose, California. She was active in Pacific Grove San Francisco and San Jose).

-Mary Colter (an American architect who designed for the Fred Harvey firm in the early 20th century. Her work combines elements linked to both neo-colonial and American architecture.)

-Fay Kellogg (architect, suffragette and women's rights advocate).

-Ethel and Bessie Charles were the first women to become associate members of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Review

She was an American architect and inventor, known for being the first woman registered as an architect in Pennsylvania and for inventing the "K brick". In addition, she is the author of numerous designs and patents for various household essentials, as well as a compressed air system for hot water and heating.

Activities

Using Anna Wagner Keichline's brick [en] [es]
- Spain > Technology and digitisation > 1st ESO > Troubleshooting process. Materials, products and technological solutions
- Spain > Technology and digitisation > 1st ESO > Sustainable technology
- Spain > Technology and digitisation > 2nd ESO > Troubleshooting process. Materials, products and technological solutions
- Spain > Technology and digitisation > 2nd ESO > Sustainable technology
- Spain > Technology and digitisation > 3rd ESO > Troubleshooting process. Materials, products and technological solutions
- Spain > Technology and digitisation > 3rd ESO > Sustainable technology

Justifications

At the age of 14 she designed and built an oak table and won a prize for it.
She patented and designed different elements for the house: a sink with a drainer next to it, a folding bed, constructive details of a kitchen where she introduced elements that helped to maintain order, cleanliness and safety for the users: sloping counters, cupboards with glass doors, etc.
Another of her inventions related to integrating children's activities into adult life is a portable folding screen that turns any wall or corner into a playing area.
She also patented a compressed air circulation system for hot water and heating.
She patented a new building material, known as "K-brick": a brick that is cheaper and lighter than traditional clay bricks, and has superior thermal, acoustic and fire-resistant properties.
She led the suffragette march in Bellefonte.

Biography

At the age of 14 she already won a prize for an oak table she had designed and built herself. She graduated from Bellefonte High School in 1906, and studied mechanical engineering at Pennsylvania State College. A year later she entered Cornell University to study architecture. In 1911 she became the fifth woman to earn a degree in architecture at Cornell.

In 1912 she patented her first design: the combination of a sink with a folding drainer. That same year, she designed the architectural project for a school in Milesburg. In 1915 she designed the Bald Eagle & Nittany Valley Presbyterian Church in Mill Hall. Four years later, she designed the Garage and the Cadillac Apartments in Bellefonte and the G. Bible house.

In 1919, the State of Pennsylvania established architectural examinations to regulate the practice of architecture, and in 1920, Anna was the first woman to pass these examinations and become the first woman to be registered as an architect.

In 1924, she patented the construction details of a kitchen where she introduced elements that helped to maintain order, cleanliness and safety for users: sloping counters, cupboards with glass doors, etc.

In 1925, she designed the Plaza Theatre in Bellefonte. In 1927 she designed The Juniata Country Club and patented another of her inventions related to the integration of children's activities into the lives of adults: a portable folding screen, which turns any wall or corner into a playing area. In the same year, she obtained a patent for a new building material, known as "K-brick": a brick that is cheaper and lighter than traditional clay bricks, and has superior thermal, acoustic and fire-resistant properties.

In 1929 and 1931 she patented two new inventions: a folding bed and a compressed air circulation system for hot water and heating.

Between 1931 and 1940 she designed numerous residences and flats, until she began to have health problems and died in February 1943.

In 1913 Anna Wagner Keichline led the suffragette march in Bellefonte.

During World War I, in 1918, she volunteered and was accepted as a Special Agent of the Military Intelligence Division in Washington DC for research and reporting duties until the end of the war.

Works

Patents:

In 1912 she patented his first design: the combination of a sink with a folding drainer.
In 1915 she designed Bald Eagle & Nittany Valley Presbyterian Church, Mill Hall.
In 1919 she designed the Garage and Cadillac Apartments in Bellefonte and the G Bible house.
In 1924 she patented the construction details of a kitchen where she introduced elements that helped to maintain order, cleanliness and safety for the users: sloping counters, cupboards with glass doors, etc.
In 1925 she designed the Plaza Theatre in Bellefonte.
In 1927 she designed The Juniata Country Club and patented another of her inventions related to the integration of children's activities into adult life: a portable folding screen, which turns any wall or corner into a play area.
In 1927, that same year, she obtained a patent for a new building material, known as "K-brick": a brick that is cheaper and lighter than traditional clay bricks, and has superior thermal, acoustic and fire-resistant properties.
In 1929 she patented a folding bed.
In 1931 she patented a compressed air circulation system for hot water and heating
Between 1931 and 1940 she designed numerous residences and flats.

Bibliography

Wikipedia, 16/02/2022

Didactic approach

This author can be introduced in the subject of technology of 1st of ESO, with ceramic materials. Also, she can be studied in all levels in the block of technology and society. In 4th of ESO, in heating and pneumatic systems. In Bachillerato, in industrial technology, design and analysis of objects, and pneumatics. She could also be studied in geography and history as a suffragette. Finally, in the area of art as an architect.