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MISS HENRIETTA C. DOZIER,
ARCHITECT.
(Florida)
Tom's
note: Henrietta Dozier was Jacksonville's first female architect, and also
the
first female architect in Georgia. She also
achieved renown for her work on the Federal Reserve Building in
Jacksonville, and for her many home designs. Miss Dozier's name is
frequently noted in real estate listings in Jacksonville for homes on
which she worked.
Miss Dozier was visited in her office,
one of a suite of two rooms which she shares with a local drainage
engineer. The walls were adorned with numerous photographs of homes,
residences and apartments she has designed and planned in her many years'
residence in Jacksonville, and other new buildings in the course of
construction. A rather comprehensive architectural library - books of
design by leading authorities, photographs, magazines of the craft -
filled the ten shelves of the open bookcase by the east window, flanked by
a long drawing board with its high stool.
Opposite, at the roomy office desk, sat Miss Dozier, a rather attractive
slender woman, with gray hair fashioned in a simple knot on the crown of
her head, steel grey eyes, a mobile face, and dressed in a plain black
print dress with organdy collar adorned with small red hand-embroidered
rosebuds with green stems and leaves.
"I do not know whether my life history will be of any interest," she said,
"but, believe me, I have always lived! I love life and I want to live just
as long as I can be of any use.
"My father, Henry Cuttino Dozier, came from Georgetown, South Carolina to
Fernandina, Florida with Walter Coachman, Sr., shortly before the War
between the States. My mother was Cornelia Ann Scriven, South Carolina.
"My ancestors on my father's side were French and English, and the name
has long been identified with the fate, fortunes, and history of the
South. The earliest Dozier came to America in 1623, and my father was
directly descended from Leonard Dozier who was born in Lunenburg, Virginia
in 1710. The name 'Cuttino' is an anglicized version of one of our early
French families whose name was 'Cothenneau.'
"My mother's family were of French, English, Scotch and Welsh extraction -
among them the Duponts, Landgrave Smith, of South Carolina, who was my
mother's grandfather, John Scriven, a Georgia Patriot, and his brother,
General James Scriven, of Revolutionary War fame.
"I was born in Fernandina in 1874. My father had died about four months
previous. When I was a year and a half old, my mother moved to Atlanta -
there was an older brother, Scriven, and a sister, Louise, two years older
than I. My early education was secured in the public schools of Atlanta.
"How did I happen to take up architecture - an unusual occupation for a
woman? Well, even in my childhood I wanted to study architecture, and have
drawn plans since I was seven. In fact, when I was just a little tot I
used to draft patterns for doll dresses for my own and the neighbor
children's dolls. So it seemed the natural thing when I reached the age to
decide what my life work was to be, to select architecture as a vocation.
"By the time I had finished high school, however, I had also become
interested in astronomy, and I have often wondered whether I might not
have attained more of a monetary success in that field; at least, there
would not have been such enormous competition. I have always kept up my
interest in astronomy, and study the subject seriously whenever I have the
opportunity, so I may say that is my avocation.
"I served an apprenticeship of one year in an architect's office in
Atlanta, then attended Pratt Institute for two years, afterwards enrolling
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Boston, taking the full
four years' course and graduating in 1899 with a B. S. degree in
architecture.
"I practiced in Atlanta for thirteen and one-half years, coming to
Jacksonville November 1, 1914.
"During the World War I was connected with the Engineering Department of
the City of Jacksonville. I opened my own office in the Bisbee Building in
1918, moving to the Barnett Building in 1926, being the second tenant to
sign a contract for office space in this splendid new building, where I
remained until the depression quite eliminated me - in fact, all
architects and building engineers suffered severe curtailment of their
business activities during this period - then located in the Peninsular
Life Insurance Building, where I have had my office continuously since
1936.
"Probably my most outstanding piece of work in Atlanta is the Southern
Ruralist Building, located on Hunter Street near Washington, built for the
Episcopal Church. I used to do all of the plans for building authorized by
Bishop Cleland Kinlock Nelson of that diocese.
"In Jacksonville, the Federal Reserve Bank Building, southwest corner of
Church and Hogan Streets, on which I was associate architect, is one of
which I am always very proud. This building completed in 1924 is one on
which the 'shifting sands of time' have had no effect, for its foundations
are firmly anchored on a clay bed which extends two and one-half feet
below the deepest footings. On account of the mean 13-ft. above water
level of Jacksonville, it is sometimes a difficult engineering problem to
secure firm foundations for large buildings and skyscrapers, but the
Federal Reserve Bank is well built and soundly constructed and, I am happy
to say, after its constant use all of these years, with heavy
installations of gratings, shelving, massive safes with heavy combination
doors, there is not a crack in the entire building.
"One of the most interesting assignments I ever had was the residence
built for the Charles N. Welshans' at Goodwin Street and the St. Johns
River. It faces the river, is almost pure Georgian in style, and centering
the front entrance is a lovely circular stairway which winds gracefully to
the second floor. This residence is now the home of Dr. Thomas W. Palmer.
"Another splendid home for which I designed the plans and supervised
building is that of Dr. W. Herbert Adams, on River Boulevard.
"A church - St. Paul's Negro Episcopal - on Newman Street is one of the
best examples of English architecture in Jacksonville, with the possible
exception of the Church of the Good Shepherd. The negro mechanics of the
congregation built the church, giving their services free. They changed
the inside somewhat, but the outside is practically as I designed it, and
is a beautiful example of its kind.
"The greater part of my work has been residences, apartments, and small
churches.
"What do I think of the modernistic trends in architecture? I do not like
it - in fact, I consider it only a fad and, while I am no prophet, will
give it about five years to wear itself out. Speaking of prophets, I did,
however, predict a five years' existence for the craze for the
Florida-Mediterranean type of construction, and it did last for just about
that length of time. One squibb in an architectural magazine recently
referred to the modernistic as 'nudist architecture' which, in my opinion,
very aptly described it.
"One of the first residences I built after I graduated was that of Mr.
John C. Cooper, Sr., southwest corner of Market and Duval Streets,
Jacksonville. It was completed in 1902. This was just after the fire of
1901 that wiped out all residences in that section. This house is in good
condition and still occupied by Mrs. Cooper as a home. The same year I
also built three houses on Monroe Street for my aunt, Mrs. C. P. Cooper.
They are also still standing and have been occupied continuously. This is
the reason I contend that if you build a house which is in good style at
the time and of first class materials, it is always good. This modernistic
fad is 'jazz architecture' and will not, in my opinion, last for any
considerable period.
"Furthermore, I believe northern styles are absolutely unsuited to this
State. Every house should be designed for the climate and all materials
should be suitable to this climate. I believe wherever it is possible it
is wisdom to use all Florida materials, also Florida labor.
"For the houses I build, all material is purchased right here in
Jacksonville.
"Air conditioning? Yes, as a means to further comfort at all seasons of
the year. I believe in air conditioning of residences and other buildings.
I use the gravity system - a special ventilator in the roof, arranging it
to take advantage of the natural law that hot air will rise and pass out
through the ventilator, with the cool air replacing it from the bottom - a
continuous circulation. This can be put in residences and many other
classes of buildings. It is not as quick as some other much advertised
systems, but it is reliable and satisfactory and there is no cost for
upkeep - just the original outlay for the initial installation.
"Business? When I came to Jacksonville, during the World War period and
immediately afterwards, building was dead as a mackerel. Then the boom
caused some excitement in building, but the depression brought another
slump. Now government stimulation has increased and demand for homes, and
the 'own your own home' slogan has instigated the demand for new domiciles
by persons who never before had any ambitions in this direction.
"However, the greater part of those homes built with government loans are
of very flimsy construction. Most of them are erected without
architectural supervision, with no regard either for quality of materials
or workmanship. They are built of tapped (turpentined) timbers, bleached
as white as paper, and will not, in my opinion last out the term of years
of the government loan. The lumber companies handle most of the financing
and construction of these homes, ranging from a top cost of $3,500
downward, and the owners themselves seem unaware of or indifferent to the
type of construction they are obligating themselves to pay for in
installments over a considerable period of years.
"The houses I build I insist must be constructed of untapped timber, full
of rosin. These will endure and will really give good service for the
money invested.
"I consider the best house for this climate, where everything permits, is
the rammed earth construction, like that of Mexico and some of the
Mediterranean countries. A great many homes in California are of this type
- the earth put in like poured concrete and rammed down. This construction
costs no more than a frame residence of the same proportions, and will
last for two or three generations.
"Do I believe in people owning their own homes? I do not know; young
people, yes; but for the majority of persons, no. My sentiments on this
subject are expressed in excerpts from the very able article printed in
the Philadelphia Record of May 15, 1938, written by Stewart Chase of the
Survey Graphic, in which Mr. Chase says:
"Home is an unsafe investment. I advise most wage earners to rent; and
most builders who do not wish to be caught in the next real estate
debacle, to build for renters. Home ownership brings great hazards -
foreclosure and loss of equity to the owner.
'In 1934 in this city (Philadelphia) a count showed 433,140 residential
structures, out of which no less than 40 percent were foreclosed during
the preceding period of six years (from 1928) - not including the very
considerable number rescured at the last minute by the federal government
through the Home Owners' Loan Corporation. Four out of ten homes down the
chute. This situation prevails throughout the Untied States.
'The building industry is not yet equipped to furnish in most sections of
the country a sound modern dwelling unit for a family that cannot pay $30
a month, which is the limit for most dwellers . . . . The way out is,
therefore, in the rental housing field. For many workers who cannot afford
accommodations offered by the private home can yet have them at costs they
can afford by renting. And for rental projects there are today many
advantages.'
"This condition prevails generally, in Jacksonville as well as other
sections. Very few are able to carry a mortgage on their home or a loan to
its conclusion; and when they cannot keep up their payments, they not only
lose their home and all they have paid in and improvements made at their
own expense thereon, but they lose their equity as well, and have nothing
with which to start over again.
"Religion? I am an Episcopalian - died
in the wool, so to speak. I am a firm believer in the influence of the
church. If it were not for the church, the world would be in a much worse
shape than it is today. It is the 'anchor to windward' for every human
being.
"Yes, I vote. This is the individual's priceless privilege and duty. As to
national politics, I consider some of the New Deal's policies good, some
ought to be changed. I think President Roosevelt is too radical. His first
administration was splendid, his remedial legislation was most noteworthy,
and he no doubt saved the country from a revolution; but now he has too
much power. The power should go back to congress. I think, too, that
President Roosevelt has been most unfortunate in his advisers.
"As far as the South is concerned, no man above the Mason and Dixon line
does anything but exploit the South - they still think we are back in the
Reconstruction days. If the South votes as a solid unit, we will get
somewhere; if we do not, we will simply be ruined. If any section can work
out a condition like that in which we were left in the War between the
States and the Reconstruction period, with the carpetbaggers around out
necks - and without any help or whining, remember - then we can take care
of our problems in any situation.
"If the Roosevelt administration does not stop this class legislation, it
will result in dire consequences. The last election went to his head, and
I most certainly would not vote for him for a third term. For that matter,
I would not favor a third term for any president."
At this point, Mr. Ulrich, for whom Miss Dozier is erecting a home in the
San Jose section, South Jacksonville, came in with a worried look on his
face, saying he had just been out to note progress and was not satisfied
with the proposed location of a downspout which he feared would drain the
water into a court, causing a mudhole.
"I forgot to tell you I have changed that," said Miss Dozier, and her deft
hands quickly drew a penciled diagram, showing the downspout carried to
the far side of the building where it would drain into the concrete
driveway. Mr. Ulrich look much relieved.
"By the way, "she said, "You can begin on the landscaping Monday. The
sooner the better, now. First plant centipede grass, then sow rye on top.
When the rye attains its growth, cut it, but do not turn the sod under -
that is where a great many people make a mistake.
"The general opinion prevails that rye acts as a fertilizer. It does more
than this - a good stand of rye holds the roots of the planted grass on
new ground, causing the grass to take firm hold, and produces the
prettiest lawns you can imagine."
The telephone rang - a contractor on another piece of work. "No, don't
make any changes. I'll be out the first thing in the morning, and we will
decide then."
She resumed her seat at the desk. "That was the electrical contractor; he
wants to put the light over the sink in the kitchen, but that cannot be
done on account of the plumbing pipes; the light will have to go over the
cabinet. You have to watch those contractors constantly so that everything
is carried out according to schedule."
A dark haired girl came in rather timidly.
"How do you do, Miss Marks, come in." cordially Miss Dozier greeted her.
"You know, Miss Dozier, that Morrison Smith is reducing his force, and I
am leaving Sunday morning for Savannah, and if I cannot obtain a position
there, will go on to Atlanta. I thought perhaps you might refer me to
architects in those cities, which would be lots of help."
"I can, and I most certainly will." Miss Dozier went to her filing cabinet
and in a few minutes supplied the waiting stenographer and office
assistant with a list of six names in Savannah and eight in Atlanta -
architects whom she knew personally, some of whom she had trained as young
fledglings in the architectural world - and after being the recipient of
cordial good wishes for success in her new field, Miss Marks departed,
with a little more assurance of success than when she came in.
"You have trained a good many young people in your office, haven't you,
Miss Dozier?" I queried.
"Yes, there have been twenty-four in all - four of them women. Some I have
lost track of, but among the outstanding successes have been W. C. (Dick)
Vaughan, with the Government Engineering office, of Jacksonville; Charles
Bosenburg, with the City of Jacksonville Engineers' Office; young Charles
Daniel, of Daniel and Buntell, one of the leading architectural firms of
Atlanta; Wilford Keel, in charge of the Chase & Co. (Atlanta) branch in
Albany, Georgia; Charles Hayes, of Atlanta, a graduate of Georgia Tech,
also the M. I. T. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, now located in
Cambridge, Massachusetts).
"There were a number also who started with me, but did not show sufficient
aptitude, so I discouraged them, advising them to take up some other line
of work. You know architects are rather like poets - they are born, not
made. And since the field requires long, expensive training, it was only
kindness to advise those young people who positively had no qualifications
for the work to discontinue their efforts in this line.
"What about the four girls? Oh, they worked awhile, then got married.
"Do I have any hobbies? Yes, geneology is my pet hobby, and I am
registered with the American Institute of Geneology.
"I am also very fond of fishing, and fishing in Florida waters is the best
ever! But I am so busy I do not get much time to devote to it these days."
March 1, 1939.
Miss Henrietta C. Dozier
Architect
415 Peninsular Life Bldg
Jacksonville, Florida.
Rose Shepherd, Writer.
MISS HENRIETTA C. DOZIER, ARCHITECT.
(Additional)
"Were there any women interested in studying architecture when I first
took it up? Yes, when I matriculated at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, in Boston, in 1895, there were two other women in the class.
But they dropped out in the second year, and I was the only woman member
to be graduated in 1899. I have been a 'lone wolf' right along. I have
never had any woman associate in my work, and so far as I know have never
had any competition in this line in Jacksonville.
"I have always had to compete with men, yes. In submitting designs, plans,
bids, I have never asked any consideration at any time because I happened
to be a woman; I put all my cards on the table in fair and honest
competition, and ask only consideration on the same basis.
For the most part I have been treated fairly. I remember one instance when
designs were asked for the State and County Building in Atlanta, I went to
the county officials, in the confidence of youth - it was in 1904 - but I
knew what splendid training I had received, and stated brashly I would
like to have this job.
"They said, 'We are sorry, Miss Dozier, but we cannot give it to you
because you are not a voter.'
"Well, that was a new argument and was my first experience with officials'
playing of politics with the tax-payers' money.
"Then, when I came to Jacksonville and had done considerable local work to
which I could point with pride, I contacted the Duval County Board of
Public Instruction when a new county school was under consideration.
"I felt my accomplishments in this respect and my standing as a resident
of Jacksonville would entitle me to compete on this job, for which an
allocation in the amount of $100,000 had been proposed. When I looked at
the plans, however, and read the specifications I realized it would run at
least another $100,000 over this amount, so I immediately sought out the
Chairman of the Board and patiently explained to him in detail why, in my
estimation, unless the plans were curtailed in some respects, the work
would approximate the higher figure.
"Imagine my surprise a week later to read a published report of a school
board meeting, in which it was announced the contract had been given to a
man, a local resident, as there was only one other bid and it was
approximately twice as high. The completed job finally reached the
appalling figure of $250,000, the tax-payers were bonded, and in the end
paid that amount. Everything was under cover, but it was a 'political'
job, nevertheless, and it was my pleasure to so inform the board later on,
reminding them that my bid was for $200,000. Who got the $50,000? Well, I
leave that for you to surmise.
"Then in 1925 the Women's Club of Jacksonville, of which I had been a
member for a number of years, transferred their old clubhouse at 18 East
Duval Street to the City of Jacksonville and purchased a location on the
St. Johns riverfront at 861 Riverside.
"I submitted my designs, asking for consideration on account of my
membership in the club. The job was given to a man, whose wife was a
member also, and who I learned had bought a considerable quantity of the
bonds then being offered to finance the new building.
"Again it was my great pleasure to go before the board of this
organization, and give them my personal opinion of such 'political
bargaining.' It is needless to say, I withdrew my membership, as it has
never been my policy to belong to any organization engaged in unfair
dealings. Were their faces red? I'll say they were!
"On the whole, I have had only courtesy and consideration in my
competition with men in my work. During my thirteen and one-half years in
Atlanta, I dealt with the same contractors and subcontractors most of the
time, and had the greatest cooperation possible.
"There was one instance of a crazy plumber in Atlanta that maybe caused me
a gray hair or two. He was working on a residence building, and when I
went on the job as a matter of routine inspection early one morning, I
noticed he had roughed in the plumbing all wrong. I called his attention
to it, as a matter of course, and without any warning at all, he picked up
a 2 by 4 and came at me, saying: 'God A'mighty never intended a man to be
bossed by a woman!' I thought my time had come as he advanced toward me
with the heavy board in his right hand, which he was wielding as a most
formidable shillalah. Just in the nick of time, the contractor appeared on
the scene and grabbed him, having a rather hard time to subdue him and get
the club away from him. He had been crazy all the time, but I was not
aware of it, and after this incident he was adjudged insane and placed in
an institution.
"Once I get in with people, contractors, tenants, clients or organizations
and they come to know me, I never have any trouble about my work or
retaining their friendship. But there is one thing I will not do, and that
is carry a 'political club.' I get the assignment on my own merits and the
quality of my work, or not at all.
"As I said about the Atlanta Courthouse, this work was refused me because
I was not a voter, so they said. When women obtained suffrage in 1920. I
became a voter ever since, so on the school job, I was not considered -
even though a voter - but politicians usually twist things to suit
themselves.
"I have traveled considerably and have had opportunity to study
architecture in the different sections of the United States. Also, in 1904
I went on a Cook's tour of Europe. The friend, who was to accompany me and
whose relatives we were to visit in France, suffered a death in her family
which caused her to cancel all her plans, so I went on alone.
"Strange to say, the architecture of Europe did not particularly interest
me. You see in school and afterwards we had studied prints of the old
buildings of renown, and when I came upon the original it was so familiar,
I felt like saying, 'Oh! hello, I remember you,' like I would to an old
friend.
"What impressed me most was the flowers, such flowers! From the time I
arrived at Antwerp until I left Italy I was amazed at the beauty and
brilliance of the wild flowers. In the Italian Alps there were blue sheets
of purple violets and yellow buttercups, with a line drawn definitely
between them, where the blue ended and the yellow began. And one whole
canyon was crimson with poppies.
"I was disappointed with the Coliseum. It looked like a miniature to me -
I had such enormous ideas."
A young man appeared in the door with a small bundle under his arm, which
he rather deftly explained was a model of the new "Arch-lox" type of
garage door. Miss Dozier asked him to come in, and he set the miniature up
on the floor, showing the metal closing apparatus with a chain-pull that
automatically opened or locked the door either from the outside or inside,
with fittings of Yale lock and key for the outside.
"I have been reading about this new invention in one of the metal trade
magazines, and I was sold on it from the illustrations," said Miss Dozier,
as she fingered the pictured folder he handed her. Noting the name at the
bottom -"J. Miles Lewis," she exclaimed:
"Look here, young man, do you come from the Miles Lewises of South
Carolina?"
"I wouldn't be surprised," said the young man. "I am a redheaded son of
Georgia myself, but some of my ancestors came from South Carolina?"
"Well, if you are related to those Lewises, you had a Dozier for a
great-grandmother," said Miss Dozier, switching the conversation from
salesmanship to her hobby of genealogy.
"I have a cousin here in Jacksonville who is a 'bug' on that stuff. She
keeps up with all branches of the family tree, and I'll ask her tonight."
"You do that and 'phone me tomorrow. I'd like to know the ramifications of
the Georgia branch of the Lewises."
"What about the Arch-Lox?" queries young J. Miles Lewis.
"I have already recommended it to one of my clients, Mr. Ulrich, and if
you'll go see him at his office in the Blum Building, he'll buy one. Only,
he does not want the outside lock. You see his garage adjoins his
residence and he plans to go through the kitchen to unlock the garage on
driving in."
Young Mr. Lewis' face lit up eagerly, as he said: "I have seen him - got
his name from the building permits, and he has purchased one of my locks.
He mentioned about taking off the outside knob, and I told him we could
make this job up special just as he wants it, for the complete price of
$16.00."
"I knew you could from looking at the illustrations," said Miss Dozier.
"Well, goodbye," and don't forget to call me tomorrow about your
great-grandmother."
After young Lewis had departed, Miss Dozier went on: "If he is who I think
he is, he comes from the real Dozier branch. There are two families in the
original, one 'Dozier' and the other from 'Pierre Dauger' which is now
also spelled 'Dozier' by his descendants, but the two branches are in no
way related. I have gone back in some cases ten generations, without
finding a single inter-marriage, which is rather unusual, as both are of
French origin and both branches very prolific.
"Well, I'll have to get back to my drawing board. My work is just like my
fishing, in which I use just plain old poles, hooks, and worms - no fancy
bait. Sometimes I have sat beside a fishing companion, who would be
jerking out one bass after another; while I alongside would yank out
nothing but catfish. Maybe somebody versed in the psychology of fishing
could give the answer, but I believe I was only over a 'catfish hole.'
"When the depression eliminated me in 1929. I lost my home - the one I had
built for myself and my sister after much pains-taking effort and
considerable self-denial. It was valued then at $8,000. The other day, the
mortgager offered it back to me for $2,500.
"This made me realize that many people were in the same boat, so in the
last few years, I have done nothing but small residential homes - maybe
that's my 'catfish hole'. But at any rate, I believe from my own
experience and with a woman's general reputation of condensing space and
utilizing corners for wall spaces and furniture settings instead of
blocking them up with windows, doors, and closets, it gives me the very
best ideas for commodious and comfortable homes.
"And if I can once get started on my idea of the earth-rammed house, it
will catch on like wildfire - durable, vermin-proof, termite-proof,
insulated against cold and heat from the outside, with an average
expenditure cost of around $500.00 a room, compared with the present
government cost of around $1,000 a unit, it will be Florida's own house
and home, good for the constant use of two or three generations."
March 10, 1939
Miss Henrietta C. Dozier
Architect
(additional)
415 Pen. Life Bldg.,
Rose Shepherd, Writer.
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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