African-American Architects: William Sydney Pittman

William Sydney Pittman (April 21, 1875 - March 14, 1958) was an African American Architect from Alabama. He is known for being the first practicing African-American architect in the state of Texas. He was also the first African-American in the nation to win a federal contract to design a building in 1907. He is also notable for being both the mentee and son-in-law of Booker T. Washington. 

Source: Dallas Observer

Pittman graduated from the Tuskegee Institute in 1897 and Drexel Institute, where he earned degrees in architecture and mechanical drawing. Pittman designed two buildings for the Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute for Colored Persons (now Kentucky State University), the Trade School Building and Hume Hall. After completing his work at Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute, he received a letter of endorsement from the Kentucky Superintendent of Education.

Hume Hall
Source: Delcampe.com

He was also employed by the African-American architect John Lankford. William Pittman designed churches, schools, libraries, commercial buildings and fraternal buildings. Some examples of his work are the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Garfield Elementary Public School, and the Washington D.C. 12th Street Y.M.C.A, and the building for the Grand United Order of Oddfellows (Negro). 

Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Source: Wikipedia

One of his most famous buildings is the Knights of the Pythias Temple in Dallas, Texas which was the first major commercial structure built for African Americans, by African Americans, and with African American money. It is now the only building downtown to hold that distinction. It provided office space for prominent African American professionals, such as lawyers and doctors, and the top floor was used for social activities. The Colored Carnegie Library of Houston, located in Houston, Texas was the first library for African-Americans in Houston.

Pythian Temple
Source: Flickr