Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction . Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication . Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to research.

Preferred Citation

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], A. Jane Duncombe Architectural Papers, Ms2002-004, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Source of Acquisition

Architect A. Jane Duncombe donated her papers to the International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA) at Virginia Tech during the period spanning 1991-2003.

Biographical Note

A. Jane Duncombe, born in 1925 in Ontario, Canada, graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago's School of Industrial Design where she studied under Marya Lilien. During World War II Lilien was the first woman to receive an architectural degree in Poland and was a Charter Apprentice at Taliesin. Lilien told Duncombe early in her studies, "You must be an architect, you have it!" Lilien's insight predicted Duncombe's apprenticeship under Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin from 1948-1949. After working for a year in the Chicago area and in Canada, Duncombe moved to San Francisco to work with Lois Davidson Gottlieb , also a graduate of Taliesin. As part of the design team Duncombe-Davidson, based in Sausalito, she designed residences in Marin County starting with the Val Goeschen house, a one-room unit with 576 square feet, in Inverness, CA. This partnership spanned the years 1951 to 1956. Duncombe continued to practice in the San Francisco Bay area for forty years where she completed a broad range of projects.

Scope and Contents

The A. Jane Duncombe Architectural Papers span the years 1952 to 2002. The papers consist primarily of architectural drawings, as well as some printed material including plan sheets, articles, and printouts of digital images. The collection documents various residential and other projects upon which Duncombe worked, one in Illinois and the rest in California.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series of drawings and biographical material. Drawings are arranged chronologically according to project.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Architects
• Architectural drawing -- 20th century
• Architectural drawings (visual works)
• International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA)
• Women -- History

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the A. Jane Duncombe Architectural Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 ( https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/ ).