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Hi All: Please post the following announcement. This is a great opportunity for scholars interested in women in architecture, women's studies, art history, urban planning, landscape architecture, etc. A very nice presentation of the announcement, suitable for posting on bulletin boards and the like is attached. - Heather ---------- Proposals Now Being Accepted for the Third Milka Bliznakov Prize Competition The Milka Bliznakov Prize, conferred in recognition of research that advances knowledge of women's contributions to architecture and related design fields, was created to encourage the use and growth of the International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA). The Board of Advisors of the IAWA, following a two-stage process, awards the annual prize of $1000. The first stage is an open review of proposals, the second stage is by invitation to finalists from the first stage. Stage one, the review of proposals, must be postmarked by 1 September 2002. Proposals consist of a 250-500-word discussion of the original projects, research, or scholarly work, relative to the IAWA collections, and which will contribute to and advance the recognition of women's contributions in design. Details about the IAWA and the Bliznakov Prize can be found at http://spec.lib.vt.edu/iawa/. For more information, contact Donna Dunay, AIA, via email or phone at [log in to unmask], or (540) 231-5512. About the IAWA The International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA), established in 1985, is a joint program of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and the University Libraries at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). The purpose of the archive is to document the history of women's involvement in architecture by collecting, preserving, storing, and making available to researchers the professional papers of women architects, landscape architects, designers, architectural historians and critics, and urban planners, and the records of women's architectural organizations, from around the world. The IAWA focuses primarily on collecting the papers of those who practiced at a time when there were few women in the field (before the 1950's). The IAWA collects this information to fill serious gaps in the availability of primary research materials for architectural, women's, and social history research. The IAWA also collects books, biographical information, and published materials as part of its mission to act as a clearinghouse of information about all women in architecture, past and present. A voice for women in architecture: Milka Bliznakov… Milka Bliznakov only knew two English words when she came to the United States from Bulgaria in 1961 -- yes and no. Now, fluent in English, she speaks a bold “yes” for the importance of women in the field of architecture. When arriving at Virginia Tech in the early-70s to teach architecture, Milka was mindful that she was one of very few women architects, and that there was no recognition for the contributions made by these women. Coming from a family of professional women as daughter of a doctor, and niece of a dentist, she wanted to do something about this problem. In 1985, with the help and support of faculty and administrators, Milka founded the International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA) as a joint program of the University Libraries and the College. Today there are over 200 collections in the archive. Now retired, Milka has dedicated much of her time to making personal calls to women architects, designers, and planners all over the world, encouraging them to consider donating their drawings and projects to the IAWA. Most recently she gave a lecture at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. entitled “A Unique Collection of Women’s Creative Accomplishments” which showcased the content, scope, and value of the IAWA collections. For a detailed listing of these collections housed in the Special Collections at the University Libraries of Virginia Tech, see http://spec.lib.vt.edu/iawa/guide.html. ---------- Heather Ball Art and Architecture Librarian Honorary Advisor, IAWA Virginia Tech 302 Cowgill Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061-0206 tel: 540-231-9272 fax: (Arch. Dept.) 540-231-9938 e-mail: [log in to unmask] http://www.lib.vt.edu/services/branches/artarch/