George Washington Foster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Washington Foster
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|---|---|
| Born |
George Washington Foster, Jr.
December 18, 1866 |
| Died | December 20, 1923 (aged 57) |
| Resting place | Westwood Cemetery, Westwood, New Jersey |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | Carrie |
| Children | 6 |
George Washington Foster (1866–1923) was an important African-American architect. He was one of the first Black architects to get a license in New Jersey in 1908. Later, he also got a license in New York in 1916. Foster worked with Vertner Woodson Tandy, who was the first Black architect licensed in New York. Their company, Tandy & Foster, designed buildings from 1908 to 1914.
Early Life and Learning
George Washington Foster, Jr. was born in Virginia on December 18, 1866. When he was four years old, his family moved to Newark, New Jersey. George went to night school at a place called Cooper Union. There, he learned all about architecture, which is the art of designing buildings.
Designing Buildings
Foster may have worked for a famous architect named Henry Janeway Hardenbergh from 1888 to 1889. Hardenbergh designed well-known buildings in New York City. These include the Dakota Apartment Building, the Plaza Hotel, and the first Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. If Foster worked with Hardenbergh, he might have helped with the Waldorf Hotel in 1892. He might also have worked on the Flatiron Building.
Around 1908, Foster met Vertner Woodson Tandy. Tandy was the first registered African-American architect in New York. They started their own architecture company called Tandy & Foster. In 1910, they designed the St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Harlem, New York. They also worked on the Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Harlem. After 1915, Foster got his license to work in New York. He had his own office until he passed away.
Family Life
George Washington Foster and his wife, Carrie, moved to Park Ridge, New Jersey. He designed and built their house there. They had six children together. One of their sons was named Henry Hardenburg Foster, after George's former employer.
Later Years
George Washington Foster passed away on December 20, 1923. He died in the house he designed on Colony Avenue in Park Ridge, New Jersey. He is buried at the Westwood Cemetery in Westwood, New Jersey.
