First Black woman licensed architect in New York State

In 1954, represented here as January 1, 1954 for chronology, Norma Merrick Sklarek passed the New York State architecture licensing examination on her first attempt and became the first Black woman licensed as an architect in New York State.[3][9] Sources agree on the year but do not record the exact day; the achievement itself, however, is firmly documented.

Sklarek was then employed as a draftsperson at the New York Department of Public Works after being rejected by numerous private firms despite her Columbia degree.[2][3][8] Preparing for the licensing exam while working full time and raising a child, she confronted not only the exam’s demanding technical content but also the implicit expectation that Black women would fail or simply not appear in professional registers.

Her success made her one of the earliest African American women architects in the United States and the first to hold New York licensure, a crucial credential for independent practice and advancement in major firms.[3][9] In the racial climate of the 1950s, securing a professional license in a prestigious state signaled both competence and defiance of entrenched discrimination.

This milestone had a lasting impact. It gave Sklarek a platform to move into high-profile firms such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and it expanded the symbolic horizon for other Black women interested in architecture, demonstrating that licensure was attainable despite biased gatekeeping.[3][8] In historical narratives, her 1954 licensure is often cited as a turning point in the story of African American women’s entry into the mainstream architecture profession.