Edwards, Gaston Alonzo
1875-1943 · Contribution: early 1900s
First Black licensed architect in North Carolina

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Impact on the world
Became the first Black licensed architect in North Carolina while also serving as a professor at Shaw University and later as president of Kittrell College, combining architectural practice with academic leadership.
Life & background
Edwards became the first Black licensed architect in the state of North Carolina, while also serving as a professor at Shaw University and later as president of Kittrell College, combining a pioneering architectural career with significant roles in Black higher education.
Sources
- Wilson, *African American Architects* (2004); NC Architects & Builders (NC State University Libraries); Preservation NC / Museum of the Albemarle
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