Ayer, Elizabeth, 1897-1987

Elizabeth Ayer (1897-1987) was the first female graduate of the University of Washington's architecture program and was the first female architect registered in Washington State. Ayer was born in Thurston County, Washington in 1897. She received her degree in 1921 and worked for several architectural firms after graduation. In 1922, she moved to New York City to work for the firms of Cross & Cross, Grosvenor Atterbery and Andrew Willatsen. She then returned to Seattle where she joined the firm of Ivey & Riley. In 1940, Ayer started her own architectural firm with fellow University of Washington graduate and architect, Rolland Lamping. Ayer's architectural style combined elements of modernism with more traditional, historical styles. Many of her homes were characteristic of the Colonial Revival style. Some of her more prominent Puget Sound designs include the Langdon C. Henry residence, the Seattle Children's Home, the Winston W. Chambers residence and the Albert Schafer Castle. Ayer retired in 1970 after practicing architecture for nearly 50 years; she died in 1987.