DAPHNE Elizabeth BROWN
![Daphne Brown](https://www.alaskawomenshalloffame.org/wp-content/uploads/2013-brown.jpg)
• Civic Involvement
Inducted: 2013
Deceased: 2011
DAPHNE Elizabeth BROWN
Throughout her life, Daphne Brown maintained an intense curiosity about place in an historical context. From trips to England at a young age to visit her mother’s family to ferreting out old graveyards and rock walls in the New England woods and countryside, Brown developed a keen historical imagination and sense of landscape, families, and communities as they evolved over time. She approached her life in Anchorage and Alaska with a similar curiosity and wonder; often commenting on how privileged she was to be part of an ever-evolving city situated in the wilderness.</p>
Her career as a prominent Anchorage architect reflected her love and respect for place and community. Arriving in Anchorage in 1975 Brown worked for CCC Architects under the tutelage of Ed Crittenden. In 1987 she went to work with Kumin Associates. These 35 years included significant service to her profession and community at national, state, and local levels serving various professional boards and commissions, including multiple terms as chair of the Municipality of Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission and state and regional licensing boards. Her public service reflected her deep commitment to viewing public planning, not just from the perspective of an architect, but as an active and involved citizen of the community.
This public service commitment started early in her career at CCC, and was reflected in some of her most significant projects throughout the state. It culminated in the Anchorage museum’s expansion project where she led the design and construction team as the project manager for Kumin Associates.
Reviewing the list of Brown’s service and achievements is a history of the growth and development of a remarkable woman, a person who would volunteer to serve and follow through on that commitment for years. She had a passion and a gift for public service and was genuinely committed to the growth and development of her community. She inspired many to follow in her footsteps and fought hard for sound and humane development practices, as well as for the joy a little art can bring into our lives.
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