Letter to
Brother John Louis Wilson, FAIA
Brother John Louis Wilson
John Louis Wilson, Architect, New York City has been recently elected to membership of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. Investiture was in Houston, Texas. He was cited for "Notable contribution to the advancement of the profession of Architecture." Fellowship is the highest honor the 24,000 member Institute can award to its members. Mr. Wilson received his Bachelor of Arts degree from New Orleans University (now Dillard University). He was instructor in Mathematics and coach of the football team at Philander Smith College. Little Rock, Arkansas, 1920-21. He graduated from the School of Architecture of Columbia University in 1928. He was Associate Architect on the Harlem River Houses, New York City, America's first "low-rent" housing project, completed in 1939. It is still considered as one of the most successful and human in scale. Within the last decade his practice includes the design of a number of apartment buildings for the Bowery Bank and The New York Bank for Savings, as well as for the New York City Housing Authority. His current projects include: The Early Childhood Center, Brooklyn, New York Public Library, Bronx, and he is also the consulting Architect for the new $17,000,000 Boy's High School, Brooklyn.
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Wilson has worked continuously to eliminate racial barriers in the profession. He has visited junior and senior high schools in New York's ghetto areas, describing the architectural profession and encouraging talented youths to enter the field. He made his office an architectural counseling center for students and young draftsmen, and has worked with building trades and civil liberties group towards constructive action to alleviate racial imbalance. In 1957, Wilson was one of the founders of the Council for the Advancement of the Negro in Architectural (CANA), which led to the formation of the New York Chapter AIA'S Equal Opportunity Committee in 1964. Wilson served as chairman from 1967-70. With the help of his guidance this committee has raised about $75,000 in the past six years for educational assistance to black and other minority architecture students in the New York area. Wilson is a member of the New York Urban League and the N.A.A.C.P., and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Alpha Gamma Lambda Chapter, New York City.
the Editor J. Herbert King, Esquire Editor The Sphinx Magazine 4728 Drexel Boulevard Chicago, Illinois 60615 Dear Mr. King: Several months ago, it was my pleasure to share with you copies of a booklet, treating the achievements of Black Americans, prepared for distribution by the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Gratified by the favorable public response to and demand for this booklet, the Company is now distributing an updated edition. Believing that you might like to see the new booklet, I respectfully offer the enclosed copies for your examination. To continue filling requests, it was necessary to obtain this new printing before the recent national elections. As you know, State Assemblywoman of California, Yvonne B. Burke, and State Senator of Texas, Barbara Jordan, were recently inaugurated as members of the United States Congress. Very best wishes. Sincerely, C. E. Lewis
Virginia Union University. . .
Prexy Slated for Russian Trip In announcing the appointment of President James to the study team, Dr. Binder said: "We are particularly pleased to have a man of President James' background and experience involved in the study of Russian higher education. His reactions and observations doubtless will have an impact on all the presidents as they form their own judgments." Dr. Binder, who is an historian specializing in East Europe and a former Fulbright Lecturer in Yugoslavia, said that the presidents were selected on the basis of their own professional and personal abilities as well as to provide a representative cross-section of types of colleges and universities in all sections of the nation. The study project is being financed with foundation funds, Dr. Binder said. A Virginia educator has been selected
to be a member of a team of American college and university presidents created to study higher education in Russia. He is Brother Allix B. James, president of Virginia Union University in Richmond. The announcement of President James' appointment was made in Whittier, Calif., by Dr. Frederick Binder, president of Whittier College and chairman of the delegation. Ten presidents will comprise the study team. The Americans will leave from New York March 25 and will concentrate project by which American educational leaders are visiting in various areas of the world to acquaint themselves not only with higher education but also with life styles. Mrs. James, a counselor in the Richmond public schools, has been invited to accompany her husband on the trip.