Ralph A. Vaughn facts for kids

Ralph A. Vaughn (1907–2000) was an amazing African-American architect and film set designer. He was born in Washington, D.C.. He taught at Howard University before moving to Los Angeles, California. There, he designed many buildings, homes, and even a synagogue. He also helped create movie sets. Ralph Vaughn was one of the first African-American architects in Los Angeles.

Ralph Vaughn's Early Life

Ralph Augustine Vaughn was born on April 24, 1907. His hometown was Washington, D.C.. His father, Roscoe I. Vaughn, was a teacher and architect. Ralph had three brothers and sisters.

Ralph went to Armstrong Technical High School. His father taught there. Ralph finished high school in 1925. He then went to Howard University, a college mainly for Black students. After a year, he moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He earned a degree in architecture in 1932.

He studied with famous architects like William Pereira and Charles Luckman. Ralph also helped start a chapter of Omega Psi Phi. This is an African-American fraternity. He continued his studies at the University of Michigan in 1932.

Ralph Vaughn's Career

Vaughn started his career as a draftsman. He worked for Albert Cassell, another African-American architect. Cassell designed buildings at Howard University. Ralph then worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for two years. He also advised Hilyard Robinson on projects.

In 1935, Ralph became an assistant professor. At the same time, he worked for Paul R. Williams. Williams was another important African-American architect. Ralph was a chief craftsman for the Langston Terrace Dwellings.

In 1937, Ralph moved to Los Angeles. He worked full-time for Paul Williams. He helped design the Saks Fifth Avenue store. He also worked on the MCA Inc. headquarters in Beverly Hills. Ralph also helped design homes for actors like Bert Lahr, Tyrone Power, and Bill Robinson. In 1941, he lost his job. This happened because new building projects stopped when the United States joined World War II.

From 1941 to 1945, Ralph worked as a set designer. He worked for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer with Cedric Gibbons. He helped design the sets for many movies. These included Kismet (1944) starring Marlene Dietrich. He also worked on A Guy Named Joe (1943) and Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944). Later, he worked on The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954).

In 1945, Vaughn started his own architecture firm. He partnered with John C. Lindsey. They designed homes in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, and Catalina Island.

Chase Knoll Apartments, Sherman Oaks, California.

With Heth Wharton, he designed the North Hollywood Manor in North Hollywood. They also designed the Chase Knolls Apartments in Sherman Oaks in 1950. The Chase Knolls Apartments are now a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. In 1951, they designed Lincoln Place Apartment Homes in Venice, Los Angeles. This complex has 52 buildings. It is one of his most famous projects.

In 1953, Vaughn joined the Los Angeles Building and Safety Commission. He was a member of several important groups. These included the Archaeological Institute of America and the Smithsonian Institution. He also helped start the Society of American Registered Architects. In 1959, he designed a new building for Temple Beth Am. This was a Jewish synagogue. He received an award from them for his work.

Vaughn designed the Schwab's Pharmacy on Sunset Boulevard. He also designed buildings for the San Marcos Golf Club in San Marcos, California. In the late 1970s, he helped restore the famous Watts Towers.

Ralph Vaughn's Personal Life and Death

Ralph Vaughn married Elizabeth Estelle Christmas Fry in 1935. She worked as a librarian. They had one son, Ronald Fry Vaughn.

Ralph retired in Stockton, California, in 1998. He passed away two years later, on October 21, 2000.