There is Only One Paul R. Williams highlights the work of the first certified black architect west of the Mississippi River. Paul R. Williams (1894-1980) who was a Los Angeles native that built a successful architectural practice decades before the Civil Rights Movement. His graceful designs and mastery of myriad architectural styles made him impossible to ignore.
In the course of his 50 year career, he designed nearly 3,000 buildings. He designed municipal buildings and private homes. He designed banks, churches, hospitals, and university halls. He designed public housing projects and mansions for celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball.
If you have ever spent an afternoon driving around Los Angeles, you have seen a Williams building or two.