Home > Paul Williams (Architect)
Paul Revere Williams ( February 18, 1894 - January 23, 1980), was an African American architect based in Los Angeles, California. Orphaned at age four, he went on to attend the University of Southern California to earn a degree in mechanical engineering. He also studied at the Los Angeles School of Art and Design and at the Beaux Arts Institute of Design in New York. He became a certified architect in 1915, the first Black architect west of the Mississippi. In 1917 he married Della Mae Givens at the First AME Church in Los Angeles. The couple had two children.He won an architectural competition at age 25 and three years later opened his own office. Fighting to gain attention, he served on the first Los Angeles City Planning Commission in 1920. During World War II he served as a naval architect.
In 1953 he received the Spingarn MedalThe Spingarn Medal is awarded annually by the NAACP for outstanding achievement by a Black American. The award, consisting of a gold medal, was created by Joel Elias Spingarn, Chairman of the Board of the NAACP in 1914. It was first given in 1915, and eac from the NAACPThe National Association for the Advancement of Colored People or NAACP is one of the oldest and most influential civil rights organizations in the United States. It was founded in 1909, to work on behalf of black people. Members of the NAACP have referre for outstanding achievements. He received honorary doctorates from Howard UniversityHoward University is a historically black college in Washington, D. It was established by a congressional charter in 1867, and much of its early funding came from the Freedmen's Bureau. Howard University has played an important role in civil rights histor, Lincoln UniversityLincoln University is the name of a university in New Zealand and several in the United States: Lincoln University (California) Lincoln University (Missouri) Lincoln University (New Zealand) Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) See also University of Lincoln, and the Tuskegee Institute. He was the first Black member of the American Institute of ArchitectsThe American Institute of Architects is the professional organization for architects in the United States. External link . (AIA) and in 1957Events January January 2 San Francisco and Los Angeles stock exchanges merge. January 3 Hamilton Watch Company introduces the first electric watch January 4 After 69 years the last issue of Colliers magazine is published January 5 Russell Endean becomes t became the first Black to be voted an AIA FellowA fellow in its broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. When describing the term in relation to colleges the term refers to an incorporated (not in its legal sense) member of such a body of people. As a consequence, in the language of Brit.
1 Works
Williams was particularly noted for his modern style, but also worked in a variety of other styles to suit his clients. He completed some 3,000 projects before his retirement in 1971.
Williams designed more than 2,000 private homes. He worked on small homes and housing projects. Among them was the Pueblo Del Rio project in southeast Los Angeles. But his most famous homes were for Hollywood celebrities. His list of clients includes: Frank Sinatra, Lon Chaney, Lucille Ball, Tyrone Power, William S. Paley, Charles Cottrell , Will Hays, and Zasu Pitts.
Noted public buildings that Williams designed or contributed to (in Los Angeles unless otherwise noted) include:
