New Exhibition Celebrates The Women of Martin House

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House presents “The Space She Keeps,” an exhibition that gives voice to the remarkable women who historically lived and worked at the National Historic Landmark – on display February 14, 2025 through June 2, 2025.

Through a never-before displayed collection of objects including a historic dress, a turn-of-the-century camera, suffragette buttons, and diaries, visitors can discover a fascinating perspective on a woman’s participation in her family, community, and culture at the turn of the twentieth century in Buffalo, New York.

“History is filled with the unknown stories of anonymous women, each creating a life for herself within her community,” stated Jessie Fisher, Executive Director of the Martin House. “This new exhibition, curated entirely in-house, challenges that bias by recognizing each woman who lived and worked here by name and sharing what we have been able to discover about her life.”

This includes:

• Dorothy Martin Foster: Dorothy was the firstborn child of Isabelle Reidpath and Darwin D. Martin. She married James Forsyth Foster, Jr., on Martin House grounds, in 1923. Music was Dorothy’s passion, and she dreamed of being a concert pianist. Due to social and cultural norms of the period, Dorothy was never able to pursue a life devoted exclusively to music.
• Cora Herrick: Cora was a teacher at Buffalo Seminary and the Franklin School in Buffalo, New York. Eventually, she was hired as a live-in companion for Isabelle Martin who required dedicated support due to a debilitating eye condition. We know a great deal about the day-to-day life at Martin House because of Cora’s lively diaries.
• Louise Mueller: Louise Mueller was a local photographer at the turn of the twentieth century. She took portraits of notable residents of the city of Buffalo, including members of the Martin family. Louise successfully pursued her passion at a time when many women could not.

Curator of the Martin House Susana Tejada said, “This exhibition provides a special opportunity to experience these women’s unique objects within a one-of-a-kind historical architectural setting. It offers a layered experience of observing an object within an object that deepens our understanding of both.”

The exhibition will be held in the historic Delta Barton House (118 Summit Avenue) on the Martin House campus.

Exhibition tickets are free for Martin House members and $15 per person for non-members. Admission to the exhibition is also included with any Martin House tour ticket purchase. Visitors can also take advantage of Free Exhibition Fridays on February 28, March 28, April 25, and May 23. During this time, admission is free and the exhibit is open 12pm – 8pm.

“The Space She Keeps” is presented in collaboration with Buffalo and Erie County Public Library; Buffalo History Museum; Buffalo Seminary; Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House; New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; Pine Mountain Settlement School; Twentieth Century Club; Smith College Special Collections; SUNY Adirondack Library; and SUNY Buffalo Special Collections. The exhibit is presented by M&T Bank and the Wilmington Trust.