Julia (at left) with Richard Koshalek, Arata Isozaki, Sherri Geldin, Marshal D. Meyers, David DeLong and David Brownlee, at a curators meeting for “Louis I. Kahn: In The Realm of Architecture”
Julia Moore Converse (1946-2020) came to Penn in 1984 and worked as the curator and later as the Director of the Weitzman School’s Architectural Archives.
Among her many accomplishments: from professionalizing the Archives staff to expanding its holdings (she finalized the donations of both the Lawrence Halprin and the Venturi, Scott Brown Collections), her most significant contribution was to elevate the reputation of Architectural Archives from a hidden gem at Penn to an internationally significant center for learning about architecture and design. She recognized that the tie between the Weitzman School and the Archives (and architecture education more broadly) was an essential part of our future and worked to develop new pathways for learning and collection engagement. As the Weitzman Schools’ Assistant Dean for External Relations (1997-2008), Julia turned her attention to bricks and mortar projects (like Adams Hall) and expanding student financial support.
Go to this link to read a selection of individuals who worked with Julia, reflect on her life and contributions to Penn and the larger cultural context of Philadelphia.
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