Black Architect Broke Barriers, Unseen Archive Surfaces

The once-lost archive of Paul Revere Williams, a groundbreaking Los Angeles architect, has been recovered and is now the subject of three museum exhibitions. Williams, who died in 1980, was the city's most successful Black architect during a career spanning 50 years. Rumors of his archive's destruction during the 1992 Los Angeles riots proved false; the majority of his work was safeguarded by his family.

Acquired by the Getty Research Institute and the University of Southern California (U.S.C.), the archive contains original drawings, renderings, plans, and blueprints for about 1,800 projects. This extensive collection allows for a deeper understanding of Williams's career, marked by his defiance of racial barriers. He designed estates in exclusive areas like Bel Air and Beverly Hills, even while facing discriminatory practices such as being unable to use the front doors of his own buildings.

The exhibitions at the USC Fisher Museum of Art, LACMA, and the Getty explore various facets of Williams's work. They highlight his contributions to historically Black neighborhoods, his innovative affordable housing projects, and his diverse architectural styles, ranging from Tudor to Spanish Colonial. Williams's signature elements, like graceful curved staircases and the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel logo, are also featured.

Williams's personal journey included overcoming prejudice, such as teaching himself to draw upside down to accommodate white clients. He was the first documented Black member of the American Institute of Architects. His famous projects include the 28th Street Y.M.C.A., the Jay Paley Residence, and the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, demonstrating the wide-ranging impact of his design on Los Angeles.