Mary Wingfield Scott
Mary Wingfield Scott (1895–1983) was an American historic preservationist who documented Richmond, Virginia neighborhoods and advocated for preservation over demolition.
Mary Wingfield Scott
- Name
- Mary Wingfield Scott
- Born
- 30 July 1895
- Birthplace
- Richmond, Virginia
- Died
- 9 August 1983
- Education
- Bryn Mawr College, Barnard College, University of Chicago
- Occupation
- historic preservationist, author
- Nationality
- United States
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Mary Wingfield Scott (1895–1983) was an American historic preservationist who documented Richmond, Virginia neighborhoods and advocated for preservation over demolition.
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Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Mary Wingfield Scott • Born — 30 July 1895 • Birthplace — Richmond, Virginia • Died — 9 August 1983 • Place of death — Richmond, Virginia • Education — Bryn Mawr College, Barnard College, University of Chicago • Occupation — historic preservationist, author • Partner — Virginia Reese Withers Rachel Wilson
Biography
Biography
Scott was born on July 30, 1895, in Richmond, Virginia. She attended Bryn Mawr College from 1914 through 1916 and graduated from Barnard College in 1921. She received a doctorate in art history from the University of Chicago in the mid-1930s. She went on to teach at Westhampton College, a women's college now part of University of Richmond. Scott became interested in architecture and began photographing and writing about Richmond buildings. She was active in the creation of the Preservation Virginia organization. In 1935 she was instrumental in the preservation of the Adam Craig House, a dilapidated 18th century house in the Shockoe Bottom neighborhood. She wrote two books about Richmond neighborhoods and houses; Houses of Old Richmond in 1941 and Old Richmond Neighborhoods in 1950. Scott advocated for preservation during the rebuilding efforts following World War II and on into the urban renewal programs of the 1960s. She published the Old Richmond News, a newsletter dedicated to advocating for saving neighborhoods and encouraging community political involvement. In 1982 Scott was named an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects. Scott died on August 9, 1983, in Richmond. In 2018 the Virginia Capitol Foundation announced that Scott's name would be included on the Virginia Women's Monument's glass Wall of Honor.
Personal
Personal
Scott lived with Virginia Reese Withers (1888–1968) until Withers' death. The couple adopted two children in 1927. Scott's second life partner was Rachel Wilson (1892–1986). The three women are buried together in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1895
Mary Wingfield Scott was born on 30 July 1895.
1983
Mary Wingfield Scott died on 9 August 1983.
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- “Mary Wingfield Scott”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
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- Wikidata, structured authority record Q111507124: Mary Wingfield Scott
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Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Mary Wingfield Scott Biography. Dictionary of Virginia Biography.
- 2.Partner Virginia Reese Withers and Rachel Wilson, buried together with Wilson. Queer Places.
- 3.Kollatz Jr, Harry. Some Loveable, All Memorable. Richmond Magazine. 15 February 2019.
- 4.Adam Craig House. Architecture Richmond.
- 5.Mary Wingfield Scott's Old Richmond Neighborhoods. Church Hill Peoples News. 5 February 2006.
- 6.Wall of Honor. Virginia Women's Monument Commission.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 3
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Mary Wingfield Scott is recorded as having studied at Bryn Mawr College, Barnard College and University of Chicago.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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