Chapter History
About Us
Revised 30 May 2025
Northeastern Pennsylvania Architects Celebrate 100 Years of Service
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is well known as the primary professional organization for the practice of Architecture in the United States. The organization offers education, government advocacy, honors and awards programs and public outreach to support the architectural profession and improve the public image of architects. The AIA collaborates with other members of the design and construction industry to help coordinate building codes, building law and construction standards.
The AIA was founded in New York City in 1857, by a group of 13 architects to “promote the scientific and practical perfection of its members” and “elevate the standing of its members”. At the time of the establishment of the AIA, anyone could claim to be an architect, as there were no schools of architecture nor architectural licensing laws in the United States.
From the 1860’s to the beginning of the 20th Century, many architects joined the AIA, and chapters were organized in most major cities. As of 2025, the AIA has more than 98,000 members in over 250 chapters worldwide.
On 16 January 1922, the Pennsylvania Society of Architects (PSA) carved out of its territory a regional chapter named the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
From the few Chapter records that exist, we know (since it was then an “exclusive male” organization) meetings were usually held at the Scranton Club, or when in Wilkes-Barre, at the Westmoreland Club. Presidents of the Chapter included a list of prominent Lackawanna County architects, David H. Morgan, Edward H. Davis, George M.D. Lewis, Arthur P. Coon, Searle H. von Storch & James A. Barrett. Luzerne County Presidents included Donald F. Innes, Thomas A. Foster, and Charles L. Levy. The territory of this Chapter is unknown.
On 30 November 1941, Thomas H. Atherton (Col.) James A Barrett, Frederick Charles Boldry, Harry Charles Child, Arthur P. Coon, Edward H. Davis, Donald F. Innes, Charles L. Levy, George M.D. Lewis, William Shepard Lowndes, Fred J. Mack, Searle H. von Storch and Emerson Carter Willison, received a Charter from the AIA establishing the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter in nine counties of Pennsylvania. All members in the Counties of Bradford, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne & Wyoming were transferred into this new Chapter.
Leadership of the Chapter has rotated in an irregular basis between Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, with an occasional President from Bradford, Columbia, Pike & Wayne Counties. Chapter leadership has included principals of many of the medium-sized & larger regional firms, employees of the same firms as well as numerous sole-proprietors. Our first female President, Stephanie Jacobs, AIA served from 1995 to 1996.
In the latter part of the 20th Century, several regional architects developed an interest in the architecture of their predecessors, the advent of Historic Preservation in NEPA. Joseph Young, AIA authored an article which appeared in the April 1966 issue of PSA’s magazine, Charrette. Titled, “Early Architects and Architecture of Scranton Pennsylvania” it discussed the history of architects and their buildings in Lackawanna County from 1850 to the 1920’s.
In 1983, the Chapter co-sponsored the writing & publication of “Wilkes-Barre Architecture 1860 to 1960”. Written by Vito J. Sgromo and Michael J. Lewis, the book featured many historic photographs from the archives of several local firms and “current” photos by Gottfried P. Csala, AIA & Carl J. Handman, AIA. Robert A. Eyerman, FAIA, was a consultant for this book.
In our 100 years, AIA NEPA has had five of its members elevated to Fellowship in the AIA. These individuals include Col. Thomas H. Atherton, Robert A. Eyerman, Samuel Z. Moskowitz, Peter Q. Bohlin and Frank Grauman. In addition, in 2010, Peter Q. Bohlin, FAIA, received the AIA Gold Medal, the highest award given to members of the AIA.
In the 1990’s, after a hiatus of several years, the Chapter revived our Design Awards program. Held every 2 years, the program is open to all Chapter members and is juried by another chapter of the AIA.
One of the Chapter’s proudest accomplishments is the establishment in 2003 of a Scholarship Endowment Fund and a Lecture Endowment Fund, both administered by the Luzerne Foundation in Wilkes-Barre, PA. With an initial deposit of $3,500, both funds have grown to a sum of over $130,000. The main source of these comes from business sponsorships at the Chapter’s Annual Banquet held each November. Additional grants have been provided by National AIA. Starting in 2007, as of 2024, the Chapter has awarded $93,000 in scholarships to 34 regional architectural students attending seven undergraduate and/or graduate programs of Architecture.
AIA NEPA is also strongly associated with the Marywood University School of Architecture (MUSoA) in Scranton, PA. Since MUSoA was established in the early 2000’s, several AIA NEPA members have taught classes and/or design studios as Adjunct Instructors, Current Board members include Lizz Andrejewski, Associate AIA, (Assistant Professor) Jodie La Coe, AIA (Associate Professor) and Kim Hagan, Associate AIA (Instructor) at MUSoA. Many members of our Chapter have served as volunteer jurors/critics of student projects at midyear &/or final reviews.
The Chapter, as part of their mission, also co-sponsors guest lectures at MUSoA. Through these lectures, as well as in partnership with regional construction industry members, AIA NEPA provides 18 CEU to its members. Although Continuing Education will not be required in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for licensure until 2027, it is a requirement for maintaining membership in AIA. With this activity, AIA NEPA continues to perform its service to “protect the health, safety and welfare” to the residents of Pennsylvania.
In 2021, the Chapter purchased and donated to the Albright Memorial Library in Scranton a series of architectural registration study guides. These guides are available to architectural students and recent graduates as they study for the Architectural Registration Exam.
Numerous members of AIA NEPA have gone on to continue their professional service on the Commonwealth and National levels. This includes Board members and several past Presidents of AIA PA (formerly the Pennsylvania Society of Architects), including Joseph DeSicipio, Patrick Endler, David Leung, Ralph Melone, Randy Stauffer, and Joseph Young. Recently, Roger Williams, AIA, was President of AIA PA.
Today, AIA NEPA has approximately 75 professional members and 20 Allied members. AIA NEPA members adhere to a code of ethics and professional standards of conduct, intended to assure clients and the public of an architect’s dedication to the “health, safety and welfare” of the built environment. With our recent increased activity, the Chapter decided in 2021 to hire it’s first (part-time) administrator.
In November 2022, AIA NEPA held it’s 100 Anniversary dinner @ the Raddison Hotel in Downtown Scranton. The event featured a presentation by Wilkes-Barre born Michael J. Lewis, Professor Williams College & architectural critic for the Wall Street Journal.
