The Washington bee., 1907-10-12


gee Institute, was enabled to complete
the regular curriculum as planned
So satisfactory was his progress that
after six months at Drexel the Off
ciary and instructors of that great
school voluntarily voted him a free
scholarship in architecture and al.
allied subjects, as a reward and en-
couragcment Tor his efforts. On grad
uatiHg in 1000, he was one of the
iour 'honored' students of the class,
and received special mention by the
president, when the diplomas were
awarded. Returning TO Tuskegee as
by original agreement, Mr.. Pittman
was given charge OF the department
OF architectural drawing, and all plan
ming and experimenting Of the build
ings were included in his round of
responsibilities During the FIVE years
that lie remained at the head of this
department. over $25Oooo worth of
buildings were built after his plans on
the school grounds alone. add other
buildings designed by him for various
parts OF the South involved an expen-
di,ure OF fully half that amount In
The same period ne graduated eight
students in architectural drawing,
planned and superintended the Coils
7. Huntington Memorial Building, Tus.
ing for the money of all the libraries
he has yet given. and assisted con
stantly in the planning of the $4,000
Rockefeller Hall. the schools largest
and finest dornitory for boys.
His ambition kindIed by these phe-
nomcuaI successes. like Alexander,
Mr.. Pirtman sighed for other worlds
to conquer" He felt called to a
broader sphere OF action. Resigning
at Tuskegee in May, 1905, he choav
Washington as the field offering the
best prospects along tins particular
line of endeavor, and the following
October found him snugyly ensconced
in ? set of offices at the corner OF
Sixth and Louisiana avenue. in the
business center Of the National Capt.
tai. His rich talents did not go a-beg
ging. From the beginning his serv-
ices were in steady demand. and the
work has gradually grown to the point
where ne has had to call in a regular
assistant and a clerk, with a hkeli-
hood that at the present rate OF in
crease the services of another as
sistant will soon be required Ar
Pittman does not conhne his opera
tions to the District OF Columbia, but
makes a speciality of filling orders
for work in any portion of the coun-
try, and has had many calls through
out the surrounding States, and in
the South and West. He is at pres
ent supervising work at -NokeSville,
Manassas, Alexandria. and in Airing
ton, Va, besides several valuable con
tracts in the city OF Washington. He
recently completed plans for a very
large Trades School Building at Den
mark, S. G. for the Voorhees, Indus
trial School. of which Miss Elizabeth
F. Wright, formerly OF Tuskegee, is.
principal He has Just remOdeled two
large public halls in South Washing
ton, and is now enlarging one of the
leading hotels of Norfolk, Va. Work
in Washington and the District OF Co
lumbia is nearly evenly divided be
tween white and colored clients. He
is regularly employed and recommend
ed by three of the leading white con
tractors of the city, and two white
real estate lawyers. Mr.. Pittman,
however, takes the greatest pride in
stating that colored real estate men,
LAWYERS, contractors and builders have
been the chief means of support OF
the office from its beginning. 1t Isl
suggestive of the growth OF the firm $
popularity and reputation for square
dealing that subsequently all classes
have assisted literally in one way
and tanother toward lending it sub
Stantial encouragement.
The chef d'ouvre of Mr.. Pittman's
brilliant career as an architect is the
massive Negro Building at the James
town Exposition. 1t is his latest and
best achievement, and is confesSedly