Cooke, William Wilson

1871-1949 · Contribution: 1929

Architect

First African American to obtain an architect's license in Indiana (1929); among the first African Americans employed in the U.S. Treasury's Office of the Supervising Architect

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Architecture & Design

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Quick facts

Born
1871
Active since
1907
Category
Architecture & Design
Best known for
First Black at U.S. Treasury architect officeFirst Black licensed architect in IndianaFederal courthouses & post offices

Impact on the world

Cooke integrated the federal office responsible for the nation's public buildings, enduring open hostility to help design and build the country's civic infrastructure.

An alternative history

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Sources

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    U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)

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