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Now placed on the Beverly Hills Register of Historic Properties, the original mission of the Music Corporation of America building was to give the atmosphere and space to provide comfo
Designer for Iconic Holly

magine being the only black child in your school who is striv- Coming of Age
ing to enter the field of architecture. You have no parents to Williams continued his education at the University of Southern
Isupport you, and even one of your teachers advises you not to California, where he studied architectural engineering, and took
low-paying jobs at a few architectural firms to further his education. He
go into the field because of your race. Imagine doing that anyway,
also met Della Mae Givens at a church youth group, and they later
and not just surviving, succeeding. married. She ran the home and their assets, and he was free to build his
That is what happened to a strong, confident, astute, gifted, and skill set and pursue his career.
determined young man named Paul Revere Williams (1894-1980). According to Britannica.com, “He
learned about landscape architecture
A Shattered Childhood while working with Wilbur D. Cook
Paul Williams was born in Los Angeles in 1894, just after his and got his first taste of designing
parents, Chester and Lila, along with Chester Jr., moved there from on a palatial scale at the firm of
Tennesee because they had tuberculosis and heard the weather in LA Reginald D. Johnson. From 1920 to
would be better for their health. At that time, California was looking to 1922 he worked for John C. Austin
capitalize on its weather and fertile lands and encourage people to come (with whom he later collaborated),
west, knowing that if there were more people and a desire to travel west, turning his attention to designs for
the railroad would come west, too. large public buildings.”
Unfortunately, just two years later Paul’s father passed away, and Another skill Williams worked on
two years after that, his mother did as well. Chester, Jr., at just 13 years and perfected was his ability to draw
old, was not old enough to handle all the responsibilities, and the two upside-down, mainly because he would
boys were sent to live in separate foster homes and tried to keep in not be allowed to sit next to his clients
touch, but that was not easy and they drifted apart. Chester, Jr. sold without risking making them feel
fruit along the Old Town Plaza in downtown LA but ended up getting uncomfortable. Aware how they felt,
pneumonia in his early working this way allowed him to face
20s, and died. clients and make his presentation with-
At this point, Paul out having to invade their personal
was taken in by Charles space. Williams was astutely aware of
and Emily Clarkson, and how people may have perceived him
was now being raised in just because of his skin color and was
the first secure, loving determined to keep everyone comfort-
household since his birth. able when working on their project. He also learned to listen carefully
Emily saw something in and asked a lot of questions in order to exceed their expectations.
Paul and encouraged him
to become whatever he wanted and helped to provide him with the best Left: This photo of
education to support his dreams. Paul R. Williams
from 1952 shows
Because of where they lived, getting a good education appeared to him working with a
be more than just possible in this joyous Black community that had client from the other
minimal threats of violence and discrimination. Here, they could own side of the table.
land and open businesses, and walk comfortably about the town. The His ability to draw
schools were predominantly white, but Paul excelled, nonetheless. and direct his
Despite a few comments from friends, neighbors, and his teachers, who thoughts to the client
discouraged him from becoming an architect—“Your own people can’t while being upside-
afford you, and white clients won’t hire you,” and “Who ever heard of down from the
a black architect?”—Paul attended the Los Angeles Polytechnic High document or model
School, the first nonprofit, independent school in Southern California, gave just enough
followed by the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design. He was certified as an space to keep clients
architect in 1915. Pursuing his dream, Williams worked hard to make looking at his presen-
tation and at him.
Emily Clarkson proud.
30 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles