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Paul Revere Williams — Portrait
Portrait. Paul R. Williams, 1951; Herald-Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public Library. Image credit & source

Architecture · Design · Engineering

Paul Revere Williams

1894–1980

STEM + HumanitiesCalifornia

Williams designed thousands of buildings across a career spanning nearly six decades, including homes, churches, and civic structures. He became the American Institute of Architects’ first African American member. His work combined artistic choices with technical planning and helped shape the everyday built environment of Los Angeles.[1],[2]

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Williams designed thousands of buildings across a career spanning nearly six decades, including homes, churches, and civic structures. He became the American Institute of Architects’ first African American member. His work combined artistic choices with technical planning and helped shape the everyday built environment of Los Angeles.[1],[2]

Local connection. Born and based in Los Angeles; designed the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building and First AME Church, among many projects.

Impact reached: Residents and users of homes, churches and public buildings. (Impact describes who was reached; it is not a place of residence.)

Inquiry & making

Inquiry and making prompt

Draw a welcoming community building. Label the entrance, gathering space, and one feature that helps people use it.

Places

Where Paul was born, had roots or studied, and worked — distinguished from where their impact reached.

Born
Los Angeles, California
Roots / education
Los Angeles, California
Worked
Los Angeles, California; Southern California
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Mapped places for Paul Revere Williams
RelationshipDocumented placeMap pointSources
BirthplaceLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles city, CACensus representative point[1][2]
Roots / educationLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles city, CACensus representative point[1][2]
WorkLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles city, CACensus representative point[1][2]
WorkSouthern CaliforniaNot mapped — Broad state, region, country, or non-geographic identity: no defensible point assigned.

Timeline

  1. 1894

    Born — Los Angeles, California[1]

  2. 1980

    Died[1]

Gallery

Portrait only in this edition; no reuse-supported contextual media has been verified for this figure yet.

Paul Revere Williams: Portrait
Paul Revere Williams — portraitPortrait.Credit: Paul R. Williams, 1951; Herald-Examiner Collection/Los Angeles Public LibraryLicense / rights: Classroom review: rights not verifiedSource recordOriginal-quality file

References

  1. [1]
    Los Angeles Conservancy: Paul R. Williams

    Supports: Career, Los Angeles birth, projects, AIA membership and dates.

  2. [2]
    Los Angeles Public Library: Paul Revere Williams

    Supports: Los Angeles origins and architectural legacy.

Last reviewed 2026-11-08 · Initial research edition · Record ID paul-r-williams. A curated, source-informed article — not openly editable and not independently scholar-reviewed. Corrections process.