Where are the ladies’ rest rooms? The evolution of women-only resting rooms amid social changes of the early twentieth century

Masters final project submitted to the Faculty of the Historic Preservation Program of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, University of Maryland, College Park, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Historic Preservation. HISP 711 final project 2012.The early twentieth century was a period of rapid growth and social change in America. The daily lives of women in particular were transformed due to increased rights and accessibility to public spaces. Thus, a new type of room developed for the exclusive use of women. Called a ladies’ rest room, these public rooms were originally established in the late nineteenth century to give women a designated space to rest, care for their children, and socialize with other women, in a town or city setting of mostly male-dominated, public spaces. Although the operation of ladies’ rest rooms continued throughout the 1920s and early 1930s, by the late 1930s the use of these rooms declined and fewer examples are found. As the need for segregated spaces for women declined, the rooms once used as ladies’ rest rooms typically assumed other functions. Consequently, little is known about the existence of these rooms today. The study of ladies’ rest rooms can inform our understanding of the changing dynamics of gender roles during the early twentieth century. Therefore, this paper explores the ladies’ rest room using a systematic approach to understand their development and decline at a time of great social change. To understand the evolution of these spaces, I created a typology based on the room’s location, function, and time period of use. This typology draws on a preliminary survey of ladies’ rest rooms using evidence from various historical newspapers, publications, and other primary sources. The typology forms the basis for an analysis of the ways in which the evolution of the ladies’ rest rooms parallels social changes in American society during the early twentieth century. The paper concludes with an assessment of how ladies’ rest rooms demonstrate that preservationists should look more closely at the evolution of interior spaces

Feasibility study for future use of the Bostwick property

University of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation, Graduate Program in Historic Preservation, December 2011. HISP 650Since its construction in 1746, Bostwick has been a constant presence in Bladensburg, Maryland. It has survived as a standing structure with several acres of intact historic landscape, while the built environment of the surrounding area has evolved. The original structure, many of the historic outbuildings, and the landscape remain, but throughout its history Bostwick’s buildings and landscape have changed in appearance, function, and its relationship to the local community. Today, the property is physically deteriorating, and damage from the August 2011 earthquake has only made the situation worse. It has become a problem for both its owner, the Town of Bladensburg, and the greater preservation community. All involved are interested in Bostwick’s survival, and all agree that its potential future use could be the cornerstone in Bladensburg’s continuing development. As part of an ongoing relationship between the University of Maryland and the Town, this studio project was developed to explore recommendations for a new use of Bostwick. The recommended scenario builds upon the strengths of the Bladensburg community and the unique heritage of Bostwick. This report is divided into two parts: (1) Research & Assessment and (2) Recommendations. Part 1 details all of our research, including the past and present context of both Bostwick and greater Bladensburg, previous preservation efforts and studies, stakeholder values, and comparable sites. All of this data informs Part 2 of this report, which contains our recommendations for the future use of Bostwick