A Quiet Gentleman: Paul Revere Williams and His Los Angeles Dream

A quiet, gentle man, he found his ‘voice’ in his designs. When others attempted to silence him with racism, he ‘spoke’ as others could not—for himself, and for his community. He also found his voice in community participation. Appointed to the first City Planning Commision of Los Angeles, in 1920, he understood the importance of civic responsibility and representation. From then on he would serve on city and county boards in the arts and planning, allowing him to again ‘speak’’’ volumes whether selecting artwork for public buildings or laying the groundwork for public spaces.

From the introduction of Paul R. Williams Classic Hollywood Style by Karen E. Hudson

Paul Revere Williams was born in Downtown Los Angeles on February 18, 1894 at 824 Santee Street, and was orphaned by the age of four when his parents died of consumption two years apart. He was raised by a foster mother who dedicated herself to his education and instilled in young Paul that he could achieve anything he wanted. He was the only African-American student at Sentous Avenue Elementary School, which was located where L.A. Live Way is today. When he was attending Polytechnic High School he discovered his passion for architecture, despite being counseled against choosing architecture as a career, because of his race. Paul would go on to study at Los Angeles School of Art and Design, New York Beaux-Arts Institute of Design Atelier, the Los Angeles Branch, and complete his architecture degree at the University of Southern California in 1921.

Paul R. Williams was the first African-American architect west of the Mississippi, winning architectural competitions, and owning his own practice by the age of 25. His talent and clientele took off in the 1920s, setting the stage for his highly sought after design skills. Williams would go on to create some of the most iconic and timeless structures that would ever grace Los Angeles and the Southland with the Williams touch and his California flair.

Early in his career Williams developed the skill of writing upside down while standing across from his clients when he noticed that some of them felt uncomfortable sitting next to a Black man. Williams described this skill “as an artistic sleight of hand. It was about making a dazzling first impression, so that people would think twice about judging him by the color of his skin.”

It is ironic that one of the most celebrated architects of Los Angeles, who designed homes for some of the most famous people, would not be able to live in most of the neighborhoods they were placed, because of the racist land covenants that held sway, and did not begin to relent until the Supreme Court rulings in 1948 and 1953.

This exhibit was put together to highlight a few of the items we have in our collection that represent Paul Revere Williams’ lasting influence and artistry across the landscape of Los Angeles. A contribution that has affected our residents rich and poor alike, creating places that cause us to dream and strive in spite of what challenges we may face. Williams designed around 3,000 projects over his career, was the first African-American member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1921, and the first African-American to be inducted into AIA College of Fellows in 1957. Paul R. Williams died on January 23, 1980 and is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery.

The following map shows the locations of Paul Williams' designs around the Los Angeles Area: