Welcome to the Dynamic National Archive, home of The Collection of Women of 20th-century Architecture (formerly the Timeline of American Women of Architecture). The mission of the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation is to expand knowledge and cultural recognition of women’s contributions to 20th-century American architecture and built environment. We define architecture broadly, including building design, engineering, landscape architecture, interior design, urban planning, and other related professions. The Dynamic National Archive (DNA) is part of an ongoing project to catalog the names, biographies, and work of female architects and designers who have contributed to the development of the places and spaces of the United States. The Collection includes over 1,100 practitioners from all 50 states, and is constantly growing.
The DNA is an open, collaborative effort and we invite you to participate. Browse the archive by year, by name, by state/region keywords(below), or by recent entries(left). You can search by typing a person’s name or state into the search bar above.
Public engagement is a key element of the Dynamic National Archive. You are encouraged to submit data about architects - their background, education, projects, clients, employers, and influences. To add or edit an entry, follow three simple steps:
- Click “Log In” in the upper right corner.
- Click “Register” and fill out required information.
- Log in to Add an Architect or Edit an Entry.