Albert Cassell facts for kids

Founders Library (1937), Howard University, Washington, D.C.

Albert Irvin Cassell (1895–1969) was a very important African-American architect. He worked in Washington, D.C., in the mid-1900s. His designs helped shape many university campuses across the United States.

He created buildings for Howard University in Washington D.C. He also designed structures for Morgan State University in Baltimore. Another university he worked for was Virginia Union University in Richmond. Cassell also designed public buildings for the State of Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Early Life and Education

Albert Irvin Cassell was born in Towson, Maryland. His birthday was June 25, 1895. He was the third child of Albert Truman and Charlotte Cassell. His father drove a coal truck, and his mother was a laundress.

Albert started school in Baltimore, Maryland. The schools there were segregated at the time. In 1909, he moved to New York and attended Douglas High School. There, he learned drafting from Ralph Victor Cook. With Cook's help, Cassell was accepted into the architecture program at Cornell University in 1915. He was also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

His studies at Cornell were paused after two years. He served in the US Army during World War I. He was in France but did not fight in battles. He was honorably discharged in 1919. That same year, Cassell earned his degree from Cornell University. He then began his career working with architect William A. Hazel.

In 1920, Mr. Cassell joined the Architecture Department at Howard University. He started as an assistant professor. Just two years later, in 1922, Cassell became the University Architect. He also became the head of the Architecture Department at Howard.

A Career in Architecture

Cassell worked at Howard University for eighteen years. He was a teacher, land manager, surveyor, and architect. His ideas and hard work helped shape the campus. He created a "Twenty Year Plan" for the university. Through this plan, he designed many buildings on campus.

His most famous design at Howard was the Founders Library. This building looked like the Georgian architecture style. It also reminded people of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The Founders Library became a symbol for the university. It represented both its architecture and its education.

While at Howard, Cassell also designed buildings for other clients. He created structures for Virginia Union University. He also worked on Provident Hospital in Baltimore. He designed several Masonic temples. He also took on smaller jobs for businesses and homes.

After his time at Howard University, Cassell designed buildings for Morgan State College. This school is now known as Morgan State University in Baltimore. Later in his life, he joined other African-American architects. They formed a company called Cassell, Gray & Sutton. He also worked for big clients like the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. He also did work for the government of the District of Columbia.

His last big project was Chesapeake Heights on the Bay. This was a 520-acre summer resort community. It was planned for African-Americans in Prince Frederick, Calvert County, Maryland. The project was meant to have houses, a motel, and shopping centers. It would also include a pier, a marina, beaches, and a clubhouse. Some roads and homes were built by 1969. However, the project stopped when Cassell passed away that same year.

Legacy

Albert Cassell wanted all his children to go to Cornell University. He also wanted them all to become architects. Cassell had eight children. Four of them attended Cornell. These were Charles Cassell, Martha Cassell, Alberta Jeannette Cassell, and Paula Cassell. All of the Cornell graduates, except Paula, became architects.

Works

Two of Cassell's works in Washington, D.C., are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. These are the Mayfair Mansions Apartments and the Prince Hall Masonic Temple.

Gallery

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  Mayfair Mansions-an apartment complex located at 3819 Jay St., NE, Washington, DC

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  The Founders Library — at Howard University, Washington, D.C.

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  The Prince Hall Masonic Temple located at 1000 U Street, NW in the U Street Corridor of Washington, D.C.