Romulus C. Archer Explained

Romulus C. Archer
Birth Name:Romulus Cornelius Archer Jr.
Birth Date:March 11, 1890
Birth Place:Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Death Date:November 29, 1968
Death Place:Washington, D.C., U.S.
Burial Place:Arlington National Cemetery
Occupation:Architect
Spouse:Louise Archer

Romulus Cornelius Archer Jr. (March 11, 1890 – November 29, 1968) was an American architect.[1] An African American,[2] he is credited with designing Virginia University of Lynchburg (originally Lynchburg Baptist Seminary) in Lynchburg, Virginia and Saint Paul African Union Methodist Church in Washington D.C. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

He was born in Norfolk, Virginia. His father was Romulus Cornelius Archer and his mother Mary Poindexter Archer. He married teacher and civil rights leader Louise Archer in 1915.[3]

Architect James Alonzo Plater began his career working for Archer[4] from 1934 until 1936 before moving to Philadelphia. Architect John B. Holloway Jr. (1913-1983) worked for him briefly circa 1938. Holloway and Archer both designed residences in Eastland Gardens.[5] [6] Archer was featured in Jet with a photograph after he won a merit award from the Washington Board of Trade.[7]

Archer's work included residences, commercial buildings, apartment buildings and churches in the northeast Brookland neighborhood of Washington D.C.

He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[8]

Works

Selected works include:

Notes and References

  1. Romulus C. Archer Jr., 77, Architect Here for 40 Years." Washington Post, 1 December 1968, p. B6.
  2. Dreck Spurlock Wilson, African American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary, 1865-1945. London: Routledge-Taylor & Francis Books, 2004., p. 12-14
  3. Web site: Louise A. Reeves Archer · Virginia Changemakers . edu.lva.virginia.gov . 18 December 2022.
  4. Book: [{{Google books |0OaSAgAAQBAJ |pg=PA453 |plainurl=yes}} African American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary, 1865-1945 ]. 9781135956295 . Wilson . Dreck Spurlock . March 2004.
  5. https://38thdcstudiesconference.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/african_american_architects__builders_of_eastland2_dcchp.pdf The African American Architects & Builders of Eastland Gardens
  6. http://www.eastlandgardensdc.org/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Eastland_11x17_Brochure_FINAL_Oct7.33163234.pdf Eastland Gardens brochure
  7. Web site: [{{Google books |3rEDAAAAMBAJ |pg=PA21 |plainurl=yes}} Jet ]. 16 June 1955 . Johnson Publishing Company.
  8. Web site: Burial detail: Archer, Romulus C. 18 December 2022. Arlington National Cemetery.
  9. Web site: Liebertz . John . A Guide to the African-American Heritage of Arlington County Virginia . Arlington County . Historic Preservation Program . 18 December 2022 . 30 . 2016.