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w. Sidney Pitbnan
Washington, D. C.
l\1R. PITTMAN is considered the leading architect of his race.
He is the only colored architect who has ever been awarded a
contract by the United States government for the plans of one of
its buildings. His principal national achievement was the construction
of the egro Building at the
Jamestown Expo ition, an honor which
he won by competition.
He planned and superintended the
Collis P. Huntington Memorial Building,
Tuskegee's largest and costliest
building, and evidences of his intelligent
skill are to be found in every
section of the South.
He was born in Montgomery, Ala.,
April 21, 1875. His parents were exslaves.
He was the youngest of the
family. He attended the public schools
w. S. Pittman of Montgomery and Bl'fml.llgham, and
at the age of seventeen entered Tuskegee Institute as a " work"
student. He" worked" his way through the school, paying all
his expenses. He graduated at Tuskegee in 1897, in wheelwrighting,
structural work, and in a three years' course in
architectural drawing. He also finished in the normal department,
receiving a fine equipment for future service.
Soon after his graduation at Tuskegee he was admitted to
Drexel Institute, Philadelphia, Penn., and by means of financial
support, advanced by the, Tuskeget' Institute, was enabled to
complete the regular course in architecture and a special course
in mechanical drawing. He made such an impres ion upon the
instructors that the faculty of Drexel Institute voluntarily voted
him a free scholarship in architecture and all allied ubject.
He graduated in 1900 as one of the " honored" students of the
class, receiving special mention by the president at the awarding
of diplomas.
Immediately following his graduation at Drexel he returned
to Tuskegee, according to regular agreement, and was placed in
charge of the department of architectural drawing and of all
the planning and superintending of buildings for the Institute.
During the five years he remained at Tuskegee more than
$250 000 worth of buildinO's were constructed after his plans for , I:>
447
the chool, be ides nearly $150,000 worth of work in other part
of the outh. In addition to the olli P. Huntington Memorial
Building, Douglas Hall, Emcry dormitories, CarneO'ie Library,
and Rockefcller Hall were con tructed while he Wal at Tu kegee.
C. P. HUNTINGTON MEMORIAL BUILDING, TUSKEGEE, ALA.
In October, 1905, he opened offices in Washington, D. C.,
having resigned his position at Tuskegee. His succes in Washin~
ton has been of marked character. His clientage is about
evenly divided between the white and colored. He is regularly
employed and recommended, not only by colored real estate men,
lawyers, contractors, and builder, but by white contractor and
real estate lawyers.
In Washington he has had many important commissions. In
GARFIELD SCHOOL, WASHINGTON, D. C.
