The Washington herald., 1906-11-23
Big PRIZE FOR NEGRO
Plans of Only Black Architect
Accepted by Government.
RISES HIGH IN PROFESSION
Design of W. sidney Pittman VIII Be
Used in Construction of Negro Ex-
town E~pOsitiOn-He Was an AssO-
eiate With Booker T. Washington.

The design and plans for the Negro Ex-
hibition Building. at the jamestown Ex-
position, executed by W Sidney Pittman,
SS4 Louisiana avenue. have been accepted,
and viii be used in the erection OF the
structure. They were first passed upon by
J. Knox Taylor. supervising architect Cf
the Treasury, and were then accepted by
the officials OF the Negro Development
Exposition Company, Of Richmond. Bids
for the erection Of the building viii be
opened in Richmond next week.
The Negro Building viii cover 80 by 155
feet. II is planned in the colonial style.
finished in pebble dash STAFF. with gal
varied iron trimmings Il will have four
entrances surmounted by ornamented
porches. It is to have two stories, sur
mounted by a high roof and ornamental
sky-lights. Il will cost $4,000. and will
form a part Of the government exhibit
The building is to be a detail Of the
structures on the United States ressrva-
tion.
Only Negro Architect.
W. Sidney Pittman, the designer Of this
building. is the only negro architect TO
have plans accepted by the United States
government. He is also the only archI-
tect Of his race to maintain an Office and
20 make his living in that profession IN
the entire world. He is an interesting
man personally, and has come up 70 the
position which he now occupies after
long study and application.
Mr.. Pittman was born IN Montgomery,
Ala, in 1873. He attended the public
schools there and in Birmingham, Ala,
where he completed his high school edu-
cation. From Birmingham he entered the
Tuskegee school, and studied there FIVE
years. He first took a course as
wheelwright lasting two years.
His success in mechanical draw
Ing, and his ability 20 make accurate es-
Inmates upon the cost Of work connected
with that trade. attracted the attention
or his teachers. among whom was an
architect from the Boston School Of Tech
noiogy, and he was advised to undertake.
the study Of architecture in course last
ing three years.
His success was so great that he be-
came the assistant Of the chief instructor.
and after graduation was sent TO the
Drexel School in Philadelphia. where he
graduated two years later. His entrance
there was contingent TO an agreement
Win hooker !. Washington 10 return TO
/ Tuskegee as professor Of architecture.
he Kept his agreement, and was chief
Instructor in architecture for five years
after graduation AZ Philadelphia.
Successful in Washington.
One year ago Mr. Pittman came TO
Washington and opened an Office as a
professional architect. While at Tuske-
gee he planned and supervised the con-
structiOn OF buildings worth almost $50
o., which now form part OF the structures
at the institute.
Since coming to Washington he has en-
gagged in all kinds Of professional work.
and Is the regular architect Of two prom
inent local builders He has planned a
number OF school buildings for negro edu-
catiOnal corporations in the South. and
has entered into competition with archi-
tects OF the white race, sometimes win
ming profitable jobs from them.