Our History
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) originated as Women in Construction of Fort Worth, Texas. Sixteen women working in the construction industry founded it in 1953. Knowing that women represented only a small fraction of the construction industry, the founders organized NAWIC to create a support network for women working in a male-dominated field. Women in Construction of Fort Worth was so successful that it gained its national charter in 1955 and officially became the National Association of Women in Construction. Today, NAWIC is still based in Fort Worth and has over 115 chapters throughout the United States. NAWIC continues the vision of its founding members by advocating for the value and impact of women builders, professionals and tradeswomen in all aspects of the construction industry.
The Founders
The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) began as Women in Construction of Fort Worth, founded on September 11, 1953 by Doris Efird and 15 other women who were looking for a support system. These women were all actively employed in the construction industry and had been doing business with each other for years when they decided to finally meet face to face. […]
This progressive group of women had the foresight to create an atmosphere where they could network and support each other professionally as well as personally. This support system gave them the confidence to reach for and achieve their goals. When describing this group of women, Alice Ashley [one of the 16 NAWIC founders, right] said, “We were women with electricity in our veins, cement dust on our shoes, sawdust on our minds… busy, busy, busy, filthy things.”
NAWIC Founders, left to right, top to bottom:
Ida May Bagby, Caroline Balcomb, Era Dunn, Doris Efird, Nina Ruth Jenkins​​​​
Jimmie Blazier, Ethel McKinney, Mildred Tarter, Edna Mae Tucker, Irene Moates
Hazel Floyd, Ronda Farrell, Margaret Cleveland, Margaret Bubar, Sue Bowling
Sixty Years of NAWIC
