International Women’s Day Virtual Symposium – Chicago Women in Midcentury Design

Sunday March 7, 2021

Presenters: Susan S. Benjamin, Kim Soss, Julia Bachrach, Victoria Matranga, Lynn Martin Windsor

Moderators: Christina Morris, Senior Field Director & Program Manager for “Where Women Made History,” National Trust for Historic Preservation and Lisa DiChiera, Director of Advocacy & Project Manager for “Women Who Built Illinois,” Landmarks Illinois.

In recognition of International Women’s Day, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Where Women Made History” campaign and Landmarks Illinois’ “Women Who Built Illinois” project join forces to present leading Chicago women in Midcentury Design.

During the decades surrounding World War II, Chicago was frequently called “the Crossroads of America” and “the Hub of American Industry.” From 1940-1970, societal expectations and economic realities often made it difficult for women to pursue collegiate education and professional careers, yet many did – and excelled, becoming role models for the generations of young women who followed. Most of these pioneers have been forgotten – and yet they were responsible for many of the best-known places, products or images representing Midcentury modern design.

With growing awareness and appreciation of Midcentury design and Chicago’s legacy as an industrial and economic powerhouse, we will celebrate some of Chicago’s women forerunners in five design professions: architecture, interior design, landscape design, industrial design and graphic design.

Please join us for this very special two-hour Zoom Webinar in recognition of International Women’s Day on March 8. Our webinar will include brief stretch-breaks and moderated Q&A’s with the presenters. All registrants will receive a one-time customer-specific link prior to the webinar, with future access to the recorded session.

Supported by the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Where Women Made History” campaign. 

Co-hosted by the Farnsworth House Historic Site and Landmarks Illinois.

Christina Morris is Senior Field Director, Los Angeles, for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Chris is also currently the Campaign Manager of “Where Women Made History” for the National Trust, a new, multi-year effort to increase recognition and respect for women’s contributions to American history. A skilled preservation professional and dedicated advocate, Chris is passionate about helping people, organizations, communities, and civic leaders strategize to save places that matter most to them. She is an experienced project manager and excels at bringing together an array of preservation tools and strategies to find creative, community-oriented solutions. To be inclusive of sites and issues that represent our collective and diverse American story, Chris’s work is wide-ranging – but she has a personal interest in the history, design, and materials of the twentieth century. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Trinity University and a Master’s in Historic Preservation and Conservation from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.