Lankford, John A.
1874-1946 · Contribution: 1922-1924
Architect
First professionally licensed African American architect in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
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Quick facts
- Born
- 1874
- Active since
- 1922
- Category
- Architecture & Design
- Best known for
- First Black licensed architect in Virginia & D.C.Church and office designerRegional pioneer
Impact on the world
Lankford opened licensed practice to Black architects in two jurisdictions and gave Black congregations across the country a distinctive architectural identity through his church work.
An alternative history
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Sources
- Book or scholarly workFind
Wilson, 'African American Architects' (Routledge, 2004)
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Related visionaries
Brent, Calvin
1854-1899
Generally considered the first African American architect to practice in Washington, D.C.
Pittman, William Sidney
1875-1958
First African American to receive a federal architectural design contract
Rayfield, Wallace A.
1873-1941
Designed over 400 buildings across 20 states, including offering mail-order architectural plans nationwide
Robinson, Hilyard
1899-1986
Designed the Langston Terrace Dwellings public housing project and the Tuskegee Army training base