South Africa: Sophia Gray

Born in 1814 in Durham, England, and emigrating to Cape Town, South Africa, in 1848, Sophia Gray is considered the first woman architect in South Africa. Gray did not receive a formal architecture education. She sketched churches, which helped her develop skills for the position of a draughtswoman. She was involved in the building of approximately 40 to 58 churches, and she considered local climate and materials when working on architectural drawings. Some of her sketches, drawings, and diaries are housed at the William Cullen Library at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. To honor her legacy and accomplishments, the School of Architecture at the University of Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa, established the annual Sophia Gray Memorial Lecture and Exhibition (1989). Gray’s portrait is also included in the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. Sophia Gray died in April 1871 in Cape Town, South Africa.