John A. Lankford (December 4, 1874 – July 2, 1946), American architect.[1] He was the first professionally licensed African American architect in Virginia in 1922 and in the District of Columbia in 1924. He has been regarded as the "dean of black architecture".[2]
Lankford's former residence in Logan Circle, Washington, D.C.
He married Charlotte Josephine Upshaw in 1901. She was a granddaughter of Henry McNeal Turner, a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal church, the first independent black denomination founded in the United States.
In 1902, Lankford moved to Washington, D.C., to finish the design of the True Reformer Building. He was appointed supervising architect for the African Methodist Episcopal denomination. He organized the National Negro Business League chapter in Washington, D.C., in 1905, and served as president of the National Technical Association from 1941 to 1942.[3] His Southern Aid Society building in Richmond, Virginia is considered the "first exclusively African American office building in the country, being the result of a collaboration between a black patron, architect, and contractor."[4] Architect Francis Eugene Griffin worked under Lankford in his early career.[5]
He lived and worked at 1448 Q Street, NW, in Washington, D.C.
Lankford died on July 2, 1946, in Washington, D.C., and is buried at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland.[3]
^Dozier, Richard K. (2006). . African American Registry (AAREG). Archived from the original on 2009-02-08.
^"Chapelle Administration Building, Richland County (Allen University, 1530 Harden St., Columbia)". National Register Properties in South Carolina listing. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 2008-03-05.
^ abWilson, Dreck Spurlock (2004). African-American Architects: a Biographical Dictionary, 1865-1945. New York City, NY: Routledge. pp. 253-257. ISBN1135956286.
^Built by Blacks: African American Architecture and Neighborhoods in Richmond by Selden Richardson, 2008.
^Wilson, Dreck Spurlock (March 2004). "Francis Eugene Griffin (1910–1973)". African American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary, 1865-1945. Routledge. pp. 245–248. ISBN978-1-135-95629-5.
^"The Hippodrome Theater and W.L. Taylor Mansion (U.S. National Park Service)".
External linksedit
, Cultural Tourism DC
"Past is present: D.C. buildings with a history", Biz Journals - Washington, 11 May 1998
john, lankford, december, 1874, july, 1946, american, architect, first, professionally, licensed, african, american, architect, virginia, 1922, district, columbia, 1924, been, regarded, dean, black, architecture, john, anderson, lankfordborndecember, 1874potos. John A Lankford December 4 1874 July 2 1946 American architect 1 He was the first professionally licensed African American architect in Virginia in 1922 and in the District of Columbia in 1924 He has been regarded as the dean of black architecture 2 John Anderson LankfordBornDecember 4 1874Potosi Missouri U S DiedJuly 2 1946 1946 07 03 aged 71 Washington D C U S Resting placeLincoln Memorial Cemetery Suitland MarylandNationalityAmericanAlma materShaw University Morris Brown College Wilberforce UniversityOccupationArchitect Contents 1 Life 2 Buildings 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLife editJohn Lankford was born on a farm near Potosi Missouri on December 4 1874 He attended Lincoln Institute and Tuskegee Institute historically black colleges He studied architectural and mechanical drawing from the International Correspondence School He earned a Bachelor of Science from Shaw University in Raleigh North Carolina in 1898 He earned Master of Science degrees from Morris Brown College and Wilberforce University nbsp Lankford s former residence in Logan Circle Washington D C He married Charlotte Josephine Upshaw in 1901 She was a granddaughter of Henry McNeal Turner a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal church the first independent black denomination founded in the United States In 1902 Lankford moved to Washington D C to finish the design of the True Reformer Building He was appointed supervising architect for the African Methodist Episcopal denomination He organized the National Negro Business League chapter in Washington D C in 1905 and served as president of the National Technical Association from 1941 to 1942 3 His Southern Aid Society building in Richmond Virginia is considered the first exclusively African American office building in the country being the result of a collaboration between a black patron architect and contractor 4 Architect Francis Eugene Griffin worked under Lankford in his early career 5 He lived and worked at 1448 Q Street NW in Washington D C Lankford died on July 2 1946 in Washington D C and is buried at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland Maryland 3 Buildings editBuildings he designed include Arnett Hall Wilberforce University Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Atlanta Georgia Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church Columbia South Carolina Chapelle Administration Building 1922 at Allen University which is a National Historic Landmark Haven African Methodist Episcopal Church Washington D C Southern Aid Society building built 1908 stood at 527 N 2nd Street Richmond Virginia True Reformer Building 1903 Washington D C Historic Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church 226 East Howry Avenue DeLand Florida W L Taylor mansion in Richmond Virginia 1907 6 Architecture of John A Lankford nbsp Big Bethel AME Church Atlanta Georgia nbsp Chappelle Administration Building nbsp True Reformer Hall Washington D C See also editAfrican American architectsReferences edit Dozier Richard K 2006 African Americans in Architecture African American Registry AAREG Archived from the original on 2009 02 08 Chapelle Administration Building Richland County Allen University 1530 Harden St Columbia National Register Properties in South Carolina listing South Carolina Department of Archives and History Retrieved 2008 03 05 a b Wilson Dreck Spurlock 2004 African American Architects a Biographical Dictionary 1865 1945 New York City NY Routledge pp 253 257 ISBN 1135956286 Built by Blacks African American Architecture and Neighborhoods in Richmond by Selden Richardson 2008 Wilson Dreck Spurlock March 2004 Francis Eugene Griffin 1910 1973 African American Architects A Biographical Dictionary 1865 1945 Routledge pp 245 248 ISBN 978 1 135 95629 5 The Hippodrome Theater and W L Taylor Mansion U S National Park Service External links editJohn A Lankford Residence and Office Cultural Tourism DC Past is present D C buildings with a history Biz Journals Washington 11 May 1998 John Anderson Lankford at Findagrave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John A Lankford amp oldid 1211075108, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
