The Woman's College

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has a rich history as a leader in women's education in its earlier stages, and more recently as a place for personal, social and academic growth among its diverse population. Founded in 1892 as the State Normal and Industrial School, the university served as a catalyst for change in women's lives. It evolved into the North Carolina College for Women in 1919, and was known by that title until 1931 when it became the Woman's College. For most women throughout all these time periods, no matter the name, the university symbolized a means to independence through education. Edward Loewenstein understood and interpreted this idea in his own way, contributing greatly to the university and the community as a design professor.

Loewenstein was first attracted to the Woman's College by Gregory Ivy, a modern artist who founded the art department, which introduced a new layer of communication to the college: visual through art. Loewenstein took communications to a whole new level by leading classes in 1958, 1959 and 1965 that designed and built houses. These commencement houses were important because they got the women out of the classroom and into the field to learn practical lessons in building and blur the definition of designers and women during that time period. These classes greatly affected the students' lives:

"We'd had meaty courses in color and space and drawing," new bride Marlis Jordon remembers, "but suddenly we faced actualities--dirt and nails and electrical outlets and shingles!" Clara Reese, a junior majoring in interior design,sums it all up: "This wasn't a class -- it was an experience!" "At first nobodywould believe us when we said we were building a house!" Rae Whedbee, senior from Burlington, North Carolina, chimes in.

This unique opportunity presented to these students will never be forgotten; thehouses symbolize the unity of the Women's College and the community at large, and the imprint Loewenstein left on many people's lives. Their pioneering ideas also set the stage for excellence in the future.

In 1964 the Woman's College became the University of North Carolina at Greensboro,and in present times art, design and interior architecture majors still experiencethe affect that Loewenstein had on the university. He brought the tradition ofdesign/build studios to the table, which is now an integral part of getting one'seducation in interior architecture at the University of North Carolina atGreensboro.

A recent example of how Loewenstein's efforts echo throughout time is the design/build studio of Fall 2006. A group of interior architecture students wanted to involve the university with the community in a different way, so they embarked upon a mission to design and build a house for former university employee James Marshall and his wife Lillie Marshall located at 909 Dillard Street in a single semester.

For all of us, to remember our roots is to remember people, their actions and their legacies. Bringing history close to home and educating our community about where we have from and where we are going has become a focus that the women of the Woman's College had set for us all those years ago.