A Legacy of Firsts: Honoring Helen Sellers Davis & the Women Who Followed in Her Footsteps
In 1936, Helen Sellers Davis became Alabama’s first licensed female architect - a milestone that quietly reshaped the landscape of a male-dominated profession. Nearly nine decades later, her trailblazing spirit continues to guide us, as we celebrate another historic first: the appointment of Courtney Pitman as the first female president of Davis Architects.
Breaking Barriers with Purpose and Passion
Born in Mobile in 1912 and educated at Auburn University, Helen’s journey into architecture began with equal parts determination and heart. After graduating during the Great Depression, when jobs were scarce and women were rarely seen in drafting rooms, she earned a position as a draftsman in Birmingham, later becoming Alabama’s first registered female architect.
Though the environment was far from glamorous (“a huge wooden table, no special light,” she once recalled), Helen’s love for architecture outshone every obstacle. “I never had any ambition to be anything really,” she said. “I just did what I did because I loved it.”
Helen’s dedication to her craft and confidence paved the way for women in architecture long before conversations about representation were common. In recognition of her lifetime of achievement, Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction honored Helen with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003. That same year, Alabama Governor Bob Riley declared November 6 “Helen Sellers Davis Day” - a day we proudly celebrate each year to honor the woman who helped shape our firm and the industry at large.
A Family Built on Design
Helen’s influence extended far beyond her own career. After marrying fellow architect Charles F. Davis, Jr., she raised three children who all went on to become architects themselves - a remarkable family tradition of design and creativity.
From her home drafting board, she sketched residential projects across the Southeast, with her children often watching nearby. Her youngest son, Neil Davis, would later go on to lead Davis Architects for more than four decades. “There’s always something of a dreamer in an architect,” Helen once said. That spirit of imagination and persistence continues to define who we are today.
Coming Full Circle
Now, as Courtney Pittman steps into the role of president - the first woman to hold the title in our 113-year history - we are reminded just how far Helen’s legacy reaches. Courtney’s leadership is both a symbol of progress and a reflection of the same innovation, inclusion, and strength that Helen embodied. From the drafting boards of the 1930s to our design studios today, her spirit remains the foundation on which we build.
Honoring a Legacy that Endures
As we celebrate Helen Sellers Davis Day each November 6, we pause to reflect on the woman who not only broke barriers but built a lasting legacy that continues to inspire us. Helen’s story reminds us that great architecture isn’t only about the structures we create - it’s about the people and purpose behind them.