William Sidney Pittman

About

American architect whose most popular works include the Zion Baptist Church and Deanwood Chess House in Washington DC. He designed multiple buildings for the Tuskegee Institute, where he was a former student. Upon moving to Texas, he designed buildings such as the Pythian Temple, Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, and multiple other religious buildings.

Before Fame

He studied woodwork and architectural-mechanical drawing at the Tuskegee Institute before earning a scholarship to attend Drexel University. He completed their five-year architecture and mechanical drawing program in three years.

Trivia

After quitting architecture, he worked as a carpenter in addition to publishing a weekly paper titled The Brotherhood Eyes, which strayed from the mainstream coverage and opinions of newspapers such as the Dallas Weekly or the Dallas Express. He became the first African American architect to receive a federal contract. 

Family Life

His mother was a former slave laundress, and his father was a notable white man in Montgomery, Alabama. He married Portia Washington in 1907, and the couple had three children before separating.

Associated With

His father-in-law was Booker T. Washington.