Paul R. Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul R. Williams
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Paul R. Williams in 1917
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Paul Revere Williams
February 18, 1894 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Died | January 23, 1980 (aged 85) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Buildings | 1926 28th Street YMCA, Los Angeles 1939 Saks Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills 1961 LAX Theme Building (joint venture) 1962 St. Jude Hospital, Memphis 1968 First AME Church, Los Angeles |
Paul Revere Williams (February 18, 1894 – January 23, 1980) was a famous American architect. He lived and worked mostly in Los Angeles, California. He designed many homes for well-known people. These included Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and Desi Arnaz. He also created many important public and private buildings.
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Early Life and Education
Paul Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1894. His parents, Chester Stanley and Lila Wright Williams, had moved there from Memphis, Tennessee. Sadly, both his parents died from an illness when he was very young. Paul and his brother were then placed in foster care. Paul was later adopted by C.I. Clarkson and his wife.
Williams was the only African-American student in his elementary school. He loved art and design. He studied at the Los Angeles School of Art and Design. He also attended the New York Beaux-Arts Institute of Design Atelier in Los Angeles.
He then worked as a landscape architect. From 1916 to 1919, he studied architectural engineering. He earned his degree from the University of Southern California. While still a student, he designed several homes. In 1921, Williams became a certified architect in California. He was the first certified African-American architect west of the Mississippi River.
On June 27, 1917, he married Della Mae Givens. They had three children: Paul Jr., Marilyn, and Norma.
A Remarkable Career
Paul Williams won an architecture contest when he was 25. Three years later, he opened his own office. He was known for being an amazing artist. He had a special skill: he could draw designs "upside down." He learned this because in the 1920s, some of his white clients felt uncomfortable sitting next to a Black man. So, he would sit across the desk and draw upside down. This way, his clients could see the drawings right-side-up.
To get noticed, he joined the first Los Angeles City Planning Commission in 1920. From 1921 to 1924, Williams worked for architect John C. Austin. He became the chief draftsman before starting his own business. In 1923, Williams made history again. He became the first African-American member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
In 1939, he won an AIA Award for his design of the MCA Building in Beverly Hills. This building is now the headquarters for the Paradigm Talent Agency. Williams also became interested in homes that could be built quickly. He worked with Wallace Neff on "Airform structures." These were small homes that could be built in just a few days.
During World War II, Williams worked as an architect for the United States Department of the Navy. Throughout his career, Paul Williams designed over 2,000 buildings.
Awards and Recognition
Awards During His Life
In 1951, Williams received the Omega Psi Phi fraternity's Man of the Year award. In 1953, he won the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP. This award recognized his amazing work as an architect. It also honored his contributions to the African-American community.
He also received special honorary degrees from several universities. These included Lincoln University of Missouri, Howard University, and the Tuskegee Institute. In 1957, he became the first Black member to be inducted into the AIA's College of Fellows. This was a great honor for his public service.
Honors After His Death
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) gave him its highest honor, the Gold Medal, in 2017. This was 37 years after he passed away.
William J. Bates, a leader at the AIA, said:
"Our profession desperately needs more architects like Paul Williams. His pioneering career has encouraged others to cross a chasm of historic biases. I can't think of another architect whose work embodies the spirit of the Gold Medal better. His recognition demonstrates a significant shift in the equity for the profession and the institute."
Notable Works
Private Homes
Paul Williams designed more than 2,000 private homes. Many of these were in the Hollywood Hills and Mid-Wilshire areas of Los Angeles. He also designed his own home in Lafayette Square. He created homes in Pasadena and La Cañada Flintridge.
He was famous for designing homes for celebrities. He was skilled in many different architectural styles. These included Tudor-revival, French Chateau, Regency, and Mediterranean styles. One famous home he designed was the Jay Paley House. It later belonged to Barron Hilton. This house was used in the TV show The Colbys.
His celebrity clients included Frank Sinatra, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Lon Chaney, Sr., Lucille Ball, and Danny Thomas.
Williams also helped design important public housing projects. He co-designed the first federally funded public housing projects after the war. These included Langston Terrace Dwellings in Washington, D.C., and the Pueblo del Rio project in Los Angeles.
Williams often talked about the unfairness he faced. Many of the beautiful homes he designed were in areas where Black people were not allowed to buy property. This was due to rules called segregation covenants.
Many of his buildings are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other Important Buildings
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Here are some other notable buildings designed by Paul R. Williams:
- 28th Street YMCA, Los Angeles
- Angelus Funeral Home, Los Angeles
- Arrowhead Springs Hotel & Spa, San Bernardino, California
- Beverly Hills Hotel (he redesigned parts of it)
- First A.M.E Church, Los Angeles
- First Church of Christ, Scientist, Reno, Nevada
- Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building, Los Angeles
- Guardian Angel Cathedral, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Hotel Nutibara, Medellin, Colombia (the city's first grand hotel)
- The La Concha Motel, Las Vegas, Nevada (now part of the Neon Museum)
- Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Los Angeles
- Perino's restaurant, Los Angeles (he oversaw renovations)
- Saks Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles
- Second Baptist Church, Los Angeles
- The Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – a futuristic landmark.
- Woodrow Wilson High School, Los Angeles
He also designed the tomb for entertainer Al Jolson in Hillside Memorial Park. This tomb is a fitting tribute to both Williams and Jolson. Jolson was known for supporting African-American entertainers during a time when it was not common.
Professional Records
In 1955, Williams designed the Broadway Federal Savings and Loan bank in Los Angeles. He stored many of his important business papers there. In 1992, during fires in the area, the bank burned. People worried that his archives were lost. However, Williams' granddaughter, Karen Elyse Hudson, had carefully kept the documents. She later arranged for the Getty Research Institute and the USC School of Architecture to receive them. In 2020, it was announced that the archive contains about 35,000 architectural plans, 10,000 original drawings, and many photographs and letters. This collection helps us understand Los Angeles architecture in the 20th century.
Death and Legacy
Paul Williams retired in 1973. He passed away on January 23, 1980, at age 85, due to health issues. His funeral was held at the First AME Church, which he had designed. He was buried in the Inglewood Park Cemetery.
His wife, Della Williams, helped start 'The Wilfandel Club' in 1945. This club was created by Black women in Los Angeles. Its goal was to improve the community and support good causes. The Wilfandel Club is the oldest African-American women's club in Los Angeles. Della lived to be 100 years old, passing away in 1996.
In October 2015, a monument and memorial plaza were dedicated to Paul Williams. It is located near the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building. The monument features a 9-foot-tall sculpture of Paul Williams. It also shows many of his important works.
Inspiring Words
Paul Williams shared many wise thoughts. Here are a few:
- "If I allow the fact that I am a Negro to checkmate my will to do, now, I will inevitably form the habit of being defeated."
- "Planning is thinking beforehand how something is to be made or done, and mixing imagination with the product – which in a broad sense makes all of us planners."
- He wrote in a 1937 essay: "Without having the wish to 'show them,' I developed a fierce desire to 'show myself.' I wanted to prove that I, as an individual, deserved a place in the world."
- "Expensive homes are my business and social housing is my hobby."
- "Being a Californian was to my advantage. In California the people are interested in ideas that are new and fresh."
His Lasting Impact
- Williams is featured in the documentary series Profiles of African-American Success.
- There is an effort to rename a historic street in Los Angeles, North Saint Andrews Place, after him.
- His granddaughter, Karen Hudson, wrote a book about his houses called Hollywood Style.
- The 99% Invisible podcast featured an episode about his life called "The Architect of Hollywood."
- A documentary called Hollywood's Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story aired on PBS in 2020.
- A book of photographs by Janna Ireland, Regarding Paul R. Williams: A Photographer's View, was published in 2020.
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See also
In Spanish: Paul R. Williams para niños
