The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-03-03
RISING 4. !. Z. !. i
RCHl'TECT
Is HEAD OF INDUSTRIAL DEPART.
...", MENT FOR MEN AT SHAW
- -.... UNIVERSITY. -.
Many New Homes
Have been Erected After His Plans
Hut School Buildings and Churches
Ill are His zSpccialues and in Much
Demand in the South, -


--
10 draw upon the imaginative
power of the mind and create upon a
blue sheet plans for an imposing
~-struetar that-will- please the eye-of
the most conservative critic of ar
ehitecture is an art that requires
especial training. .'..>..-. ..,. -.
The estthetic taste Of the Afro
Am erican-- is found -in-the- beautiful
homes owned by thousands Of them
Their highest Expressions for ex-
qulsite architecture can be shown
only by the architects OF Negro de-
scent. AS in the arts and profess
slons. the Negro mvst contribute to
the material development Of same
IL his appreciation is tangible.
The ideals Of an Afro-American
who builds q home from the plans
OF Negro archlsect are more eff
fective for inspiring those OF the
race living in squalid homes to build
or live In comfortable houses. When
4 white architect plans house for
a colored builder, he is giving to the
Negro a white mans ideals Tor the
housing of colored people, which too
often place about the occupants OF
these homes not the kind of taste
Tor structural beauty conducive. to
their highest development
III the thrift and industry Of Prof.
G> A Edwards, N. s., superintend-
eEE or mems Industrial department
OF Shaw University. Raleigh. N. c.,
what thorough training
will do for the highest upIift Of an
individual for the good of his race
and mankind: .:..
At an early age this young man
Showed --ei icantionaI ability1With the
drawing outfit that was given him
by his. parents. He loved to study
buildings that were noted for their
stately appearance, so much until
his teacher saw In him the ability
to become a sia sful :archit ct Il, 8 IIaa
studied the ( honaa of 4hes .coiored
,peop1e unity aid ex.l
pressed desire ITO be aBls some day
to give the %lowly element Of his
race homes that Wou11 give them
higher conception of home life. -~
After receiving al elementary
training in his home county he en-
tered the A. and M. college for COL
ored youths at Greensboro, y. c.,
and graduated from the architecture
Il! department Of this school.
Appreciating the fact that he was
about to enter field that an excel
lent training was essential for sub
stantial recognition in this profess
sion, ho entered Cornell University,
Ithaca, n. Y, where he spent three
years, and studied one year At Chi
cago University, where he also did
postgraduate work ...-.. ....
Ry applying himself TO his stud
Hes he made high averages that won
for him special prizes at the above
named institutions. Such distinc-
ton, being the reward for his stud
lous life, merited the position as
head Of the mechanical department
of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Insti-
tu'te, Raleigh, n. G. After making
satisfactory record at this institu-
ton, he was elected teacher Of nat
ural science and superintendent Of
Shaw University, Raleigh, NJ G.,
which position he has held for eight
years, This noted university for
the higher training Of young men
and women Of the race is one of the
oldest and most prominent Negro
schools in the country. The indus
trial department. under Prof. Ed
I,
large and substantial brick build
ing, known as Tupper Memorial, has
been erected Under his supervision
and direction, He has also designed
and constructed two other buildings
on the campus at a cost of over $685.
600; the American Baptist, Home
Mission Society has recently accept
ed Prof. Edwards designs for the
enlargement of the chapel and din
ing hall; an extensive addition to
Leonard medical building, and
modern, up-to~aate hospital, which
will cost about $4,000. He has al
SO been given the entire supervision
of the construction of these build
lnGs, which are to be ready for the
next session. ........ ....
The society which controls Shaw
University and other schools through
out the South and West has given
the kind OF recognition to Prof. Ed
wards ability that proves that he
has native ideals", which are great
er than given any other Negro ar
chjtect or builder.
Aside from his regular school du-
dies, Prof. Edwards is devoting his
time to architecture with splendid