Born: 8 September 1877, United States
Died: 8 September 1978
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Mary Rockwell
The following is excerpted from Infinite Women creator Allison Tyra’s book Uncredited: Women’s Overlooked, Misattributed, and Stolen Work.
Shortly before her death, the International Archive of Women in Architecture wrote, “Mary Rockwell Hook will be remembered, not because she was a woman working in a ‘man’s field,’ but because she was a successful designer who made her mark in the field of architecture.” Alas, her mark was not enough to get her admitted to the American Institute of Architects, which rejected her because of her gender. They did give her a plaque for distinguished service on her 100th birthday, at which point she was blind and therefore couldn’t even see it. She was also reportedly rejected for a job because “you can’t swear at women and they can’t climb all over full sized details.”