Publications
(All publications by Molly Lester, unless otherwise noted)
For Homeowners and Housekeepers: The Architecture of Minerva Parker Nichols in Late 19th Century AmericaIn Routledge Companion to Women in Architecture. 2021. Available here.
"Lady Architect": The Work and Writings of Minerva Parker Nichols in Late 19th Century Philadelphia In Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. January 2019. Available here.
Mill-Rae (Rachel Foster Avery House) National Register of Historic Places NominationJanuary 2017. Available here.
Minerva Parker Nichols: Architect Of Gender EqualityHidden City Daily. October 2016. Available here.
Viva Minerva! Celebrating America’s First Independent Female ArchitectHidden City Daily. October 2016. Available here.
Specialization and Significance: Assessing the Career and Works of Minerva Parker NicholsMaster's thesis, University of Pennsylvania. May 2012. Available here.
Talks + Events
(All talks by Molly Lester, unless otherwise noted)
Cranaleith Spiritual Center | Philadelphia, PA
July 13, 2024 (upcoming) - Register
Swarthmore Public Library | Swarthmore, PA
Exhibit book event, with William Whitaker, Heather Isbell Schumacher, and Elizabeth Felicella
June 17, 2024 (upcoming) - Register
American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter - Custom Residential Architects Network | New York, NY
Panel talk, with Tizziana Baldenebro of the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, Kate Reggev of Madame Architect, and architectural photographer Elizabeth Felicella
May 14, 2024
Book Launch | Minerva Parker Nichols: The Search for a Forgotten Architect | Brooklyn, NY
Exhibit book event, with William Whitaker, Heather Isbell Schumacher, and Elizabeth Felicella
April 4, 2024
Book Launch | Minerva Parker Nichols: The Search for a Forgotten Architect | Philadelphia, PA
Exhibit book event, with William Whitaker, Heather Isbell Schumacher, and Elizabeth Felicella
April 2, 2024
Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA
November 1, 2023
University of Massachusetts - Amherst | Amherst, MA
Traveling exhibit talk, with William Whitaker
October 11, 2023
American Institute of Architects, Florida | Virtual
October 4, 2023
University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design | Philadelphia, PA
Exhibit opening panel talk, with Despina Stratigakos, William Whitaker, and Heather Isbell Schumacher
March 21, 2023
University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design | Philadelphia, PA
Pre-exhibit talk, with William Whitaker
February 17, 2022
Chipman Design Architecture | Virtual
June 10, 2021
Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides | Virtual
November 12, 2020
Pennsylvania Statewide Conference on Heritage | Virtual
October 16, 2020
Carpenter Company of Philadelphia | Virtual
July 22, 2020
Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia | Virtual
April 28, 2020
American Institute of Architects, Philadelphia - Women in Architecture | Virtual
April 17, 2020
Athenaeum of Philadelphia
March 17, 2020 (Cancelled due to COVID-19)
KieranTimberlake Architects | Philadelphia, PA
March 6, 2020
University of Virginia School of Architecture | Charlottesville, VA
Part of the symposium “Architectural History at the University of Virginia: Richard Guy Wilson and Our Community of Scholars”
November 15, 2020
Lower Merion Conservancy | Bryn Mawr, PA
April 9, 2019
Society of Architectural Historians, Philadelphia Chapter | Philadelphia, PA
May 16, 2018
Smith College | Northampton, MA
April 9, 2017