Norma Merrick Sklarek (1926-2012)

Name

Sklarek, Norma Merrick

Variant Names

Fairweather, Norma Merrick
Pena, Norma Merrick

Personal Information

Birth/Death:    b. 15 April 1926 - d. 06 February 2012
Gender:    Female
Occupation:    American architect
Location:    New York, NY; Los Angeles, CA

AIA Affiliation

Member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 1959-1961; 1966-decease
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) 1980

Biographical Sources

American Architects Directories:
Biographical listing in 1970 American Architects Directory

Obituaries:
Obituary in AIArchitect, February 17, 2012.

Related Records

Archival Holdings

The American Institute of Architects Archives
      Membership file contains membership applications and Fellowship nomination. Norma Sklarek received the AIA's Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award in 2008. Her nomination for the award and the press release are available. The certificate presented to Ms. Sklarek for the award is now in the collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd593b64a4b-a90a-4f81-943f-120e9d19c00d. The certificate reads, “The American Institute of Architects is privileged to confer the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award on Norma Merrick Sklarek, FAIA. A professional life filled with career firsts. She shattered racial and gender barriers as an accomplished and generous professional whose quiet determination in the face of adversity made it possible for those with dreams and aspirations who followed.  Through a series of pioneering efforts she advanced not only her cause, but the cause for minority involvement in mainstream matters of the profession and the AIA. A positive force of change, she is truly the ‘Rosa Parks of architecture.’ May 17, 2008.”

Publications