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Virginia Savage McAlester

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American architectural historian (1943–2020)

Virginia Savage McAlester (May 13, 1943 – April 9, 2020) was an American architectural historian.

Research

McAlester is best known for her book A Field Guide to American Houses. She first published the book in 1984 with Lee McAlester, her second husband, and published an updated and revised version in 2013. The book proposes a detailed guide to architectural styles in housing across the United States. It uses both line drawings (of structures, façades and decorations) and photos and is credited with supporting preservation efforts in several American cities. A Field Guide to American Houses was listed as one of the ten most outstanding reference books of the American Library Association in 1984.

Activism

McAlester helped found a non-profit aimed at historic architecture preservation, first named Historic Preservation League, then Preservation Dallas. This organization was instrumental in founding the first historic district of Dallas, Swiss Avenue, in 1973. She was also a strong advocate for the conservation of the buildings in Fair Park, site of the Texas Centennial Exposition of 1936.

Personal life

McAlester was the mother of Amy Virginia Talkington. Her father was Wallace Savage, mayor of Dallas from 1949 to 1951. She died in Dallas on April 9, 2020, at the age of 76 from complications of a 2013 stem cell transplant to treat myelofibrosis.

References

  1. Lamster, Mark (April 10, 2020). "Virginia Savage McAlester, best-selling author and 'Queen of Dallas Preservation,' dies at 76". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Lange, Alexandra (June 6, 2019). "Virginia McAlester is the most popular architecture writer in America". Curbed. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  3. "Virginia Savage McAlester wrote the book on Dallas homes". The Dallas Morning News. February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  4. ^ "An Evening with Virginia McAlester". The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  5. "Virginia Savage McAlester's A Field Guide to American Houses is now available in an e-book version". Archinect. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  6. Rosswurm, K. M. (May 1985). "Outstanding Reference Sources of 1984" (PDF). American Libraries. p. 289.
  7. "SMU presents honorary degrees to McAlester and Ulukaya". Southern Methodist University. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  8. Green, Penelope (April 21, 2020). "Virginia Savage McAlester, 'Queen of Dallas Preservation,' Dies at 76". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
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