Description
Clarence ("Cap") Wigington (1883-1967) was the first African-American registered architect to practice for any substantial length of time in Minnesota. In 1915, one year after moving to St. Paul, Wigington took a qualifying exam as a senior draftsman and became the first African American municipal architect in the United States. He had the highest scores of anyone in his cohort and, taking the position of "senior architectural draftsman," would go on to work in the City Architect's office of St. Paul (MN) for nearly three decades, from the late 1920s to the 1940s. He is responsible for some of the landmark structures in the city, including the Highland Park Water Tower (1928), the Harriet Island Pavilion (1941; now the Clarence W. Wigington Pavilion) and the Holman Field Administration Building (1939) for the St. Paul Municipal Airport, all three of which are recognized by listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Wigington was also a leader in African American social life in the Twin Cities. He was a founding member of the Sterling Club, a social club for African American men, and petitioned the then governor in 1918 to found the Home Guards of Minnesota, an African American militia formed to create a venue for African American's who were barred from joinging the Minnesota National Guard due to segregation. He was given the rank of Captain, from which came the nickname "Cap" which followed him through his career.
Image
Renderings (Drawings) | Http://Vocab.Getty.Edu/Aat/300034727
Bassford, Carles A
Use of this item may be governed by US and international copyright laws. You may be able to use this item, but copyright and other considerations may apply. For possible additional information or guidance on your use, please contact the contributing organization.
Record Contributed By
University of Minnesota LibrariesKeywords
- African American Architects
- African Americans
- Design And Construction
- Minnesota
- Public Buildings
- St Paul