Louise Blanchard Bethune

   Louise Blanchard Bethune was the first American woman known to work as a professional architect. She also was the first woman to be elected a member of the American Institute of Architects, and the first woman to be named a fellow of that organization.

  A native of Waterloo in Seneca County, Ms. Bethune made a significant mark on the streetscape ofBuffalo. In 1888 she opened a Buffalo practice with her husband Robert, and she designed many buildings, including schools, factories, hotels, housing developments, residences and a bank.

  Ms. Bethune designed the Hotel Lafayette in Buffalo. A Buffalo music store she designed was one of the country’s first structures with a steel frame and poured concrete slabs.

Also see:

http://ah.bfn.org/a/archs/beth/bethberk.html