Joan Wood Architectural Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection contains biographical materials and architectural drawings for residential and commercial projects. Biographical materials include a catalog of Wood's firm's work, her resume, and articles about her firm. Drawings include trace paper sketches, and sepia and diazo prints for commercial and residential projects scattered across New England. Several projects' records include notes, correspondence, and land records. Drawings are rolled and stored in telescoping boxes.
Dates
- 1961 - 1999
Creator
- Wood, Joan (Person)
Language of Materials
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
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.
Biographical Note
Joan Wood received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Architecture degree from M.I.T. in 1960. Following graduation, Wood established her own firm, Joan Wood Architects, in Boston in 1962. Most of the firm's work can be found in New England and is primarily residential, with some commercial work. Joan Wood Architects is now owned by her son and has since been renamed to "Rose Wood Architects." Wood's most notable work includes: Lodging House for the Working Homeless in Dorchester, the South End Community Health Center in Boston, and the "Ice House" in New Hampshire. Wood was a board member and vice-chair of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Design Selection Board, an alternate on the Boston Zoning Board of Appeals, building committee member and design review committee member for numerous urban projects and institutions, and was featured in the AIA Women in Architecture traveling exhibit and Boston Society for Architecture's (BSA) Women in Architecture exhibits yearly from 1987.
Extent
7.92 Cubic Feet (1 half-document box and 15 telescoping boxes.)
Abstract
This collection contains a mix of biographical information and architectural records. Records include drawings for 112 architectural projects from the architect Joan Wood and her Boston-based firm, Joan Wood Architects, along with some notes, correspondence, and project photographs.
Arrangement
The Joan Wood Architectural Collection is organized into two series: Biographical Information and Project Drawings. Project records are ordered alphabetically by client last name, with a few exceptions ordered by street number/address where no client name is given. Project photographs corresponding to a drawing file are stored separately with the other manuscript material.
Source of Acquisition
Riosaria Piomelli donated one folder of biographical material in 2000. A large additional donation was made in 2011 by Joan Wood's estate.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The Guide to the Joan Wood Architectural Collection by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Joan Wood Architectural Collection began in July 2023 and was completed in October 2023.
- Title
- A Guide to the Joan Wood Architectural Collection, 1961-1999
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Lizzy McEwen
- Date
- (CC0 1.0)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2020-10-05: Finding aid notes updated to new department standards. juliags
- 2023-10-23: Updated to reflect additional inventory. jss
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu