Over the next 30 days, The Birmingham Buff will feature 30 remarkable women who have made their mark on Birmingham’s history.

A Woman You Should Know #6

Helen Sellers Davis was the first licensed female architect in Alabama. Davis trained at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University). She married one of her instructors, Charles Davis, and after her 1935 graduation, the couple moved to Birmingham. Helen received her state registration in 1936.

She first practiced at Miller, Martin, and Lewis, Architects with her husband; they both moved on to Van Kueren, Davis & Company  (now known as Davis Architects). Helen left the practice in the ’60s to start her own firm.

Helen was given the Distinguished Architect Award in 2004 by the Alabama Council of the American Institute of Architects.

She died April 10, 2008, 10 days prior to her 96th birthday.