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Abstract of Workshop #1

[[underlined ]] "History, Tradition and Directions of African American Architecture" [[/underlined]]

Tuskegee, Alabama

February 1979

Speakers:

1. Professor Carl Anthony - University of California - "The Big House and The Slave-Quarters"

Described by Prof. Anthony as, "looking at History to understand the forces at work". He asks of a slide of Harlem and Africa what is the relationship-and concludes-there is none. His thesis is that Afro-Americans did contribute to the building of America but there is little or no evidence of this -except in the examples of Ante-bellum architecture. He contends understanding the "forces of history at work" is a basis for developing an Afro-American approach to architecture.

2. Steve Jones - Researcher, University of Pennsylvania- Early Thomas Day Free Black Craftsman - 1820-1860

Mr. Jones thesis was that too often black history prior to 1860 is considered to only consist of only slave history - Mr. Day of North Carolina is an outstanding exception. 

3. Professor R. K. Dozier, AIA- Tuskegee- History of Black Professional Architects

Slides trace development of first school (Tuskegee - 1893), first professional John A. Lankford, 1895 through the accreditation of Howard University School of Architecture in 1949.

4. Ike Foy -Architect, Philadelphia

Mr. Foy sees African architecture as the epitome of the pure of architecture in its natural environment. His theory is that much of this pure architecture has influenced American architects. He noted the narrow Egyptian house was the fore-runner of the Row House. The slides presented his designs for a new architectural form derived  from various African forms. Included were a school, residences, and a car. 

5. Professor J. Bax Bond, AIA- New York architect and Columbia University Prof.

Prof. Bond explored the theory of the relationship of architecture to cluture, power and ones position is society. He states, "Modern Architecture is always being evaluated eg. "Post modernism" but always on a basis of style. The Afro-American Architect must develop a different approach... (it will be) necessary to understand how architecture as a art-form is used to represent, reflect and in fact influence ... a position of power or lack of it in society. Thus he concluded, "the