The True Reformer Building is an historic building constructed for the Grand United Order of True Reformers , an African American organization founded by William Washington Browne . The building is at 1200 U Street , Northwest, Washington, D.C. in the U Street Corridor (Cardozo/Shaw) neighborhood. It was designed by John Anderson Lankford . The building was commissioned by the Grand United Order of True Reformers in 1902. It was dedicated on July 15, 1903.
16-473: It was designed by John Anderson Lankford , the city’s first African-American registered architect. The building was commissioned by the Grand United Order of True Reformers in 1902, and was dedicated on July 15, 1903. The Grand United Order of True Reformers started in 1873 as an African American fraternal association and temperance organization ; and was re-organized in c. 1875 into
32-479: Is an historic building constructed for the Grand United Order of True Reformers , an African American organization founded by William Washington Browne . The building is at 1200 U Street , Northwest, Washington, D.C. in the U Street Corridor (Cardozo/Shaw) neighborhood. It was designed by John Anderson Lankford . The building was commissioned by the Grand United Order of True Reformers in 1902. It
48-649: Is considered the "first exclusively African American office building in the country, being the result of a collaboration between a black patron, architect, and contractor." Architect Francis Eugene Griffin worked under Lankford in his early career. He lived and worked at 1448 Q Street, NW, in Washington, D.C. Lankford died on July 2, 1946, in Washington, D.C., and is buried at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland . Buildings he designed include: True Reformer Building The True Reformer Building
64-690: The Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers in Richmond, Virginia, as a business venture founded by William Washington Browne , before their dissolution in 1934. At one point, it was the largest black fraternal society and black-owned business in the United States. A .W. Holmes was president of the group in 1911 as retrenchment was sought and board membership included Adolphus Humbles of Lynchburg, Virginia . During
80-440: The Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers in Richmond, Virginia, as a business venture founded by William Washington Browne , before their dissolution in 1934. At one point, it was the largest black fraternal society and black-owned business in the United States. A .W. Holmes was president of the group in 1911 as retrenchment was sought and board membership included Adolphus Humbles of Lynchburg, Virginia . During
96-635: The National Negro Business League , the First Separate Battalion . Duke Ellington gave his first performance here. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The Public Welfare Foundation bought it in 1999. It was renovated from the winter of 2000 until February 2001 according to designs by Sorg & Associates. G. Byron Peck 's mural to Duke Ellington on
112-406: The National Negro Business League , the First Separate Battalion . Duke Ellington gave his first performance here. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The Public Welfare Foundation bought it in 1999. It was renovated from the winter of 2000 until February 2001 according to designs by Sorg & Associates. G. Byron Peck 's mural to Duke Ellington on
128-661: The International Correspondence School. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1898. He earned Master of Science degrees from Morris Brown College and Wilberforce University . He married Charlotte Josephine Upshaw in 1901. She was a granddaughter of Henry McNeal Turner , a bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal church, the first independent black denomination founded in
144-611: The True Reformer Building's dedication in 1903, the Reverend William Lee Taylor stated that the goal was to "put up a building in Washington that would reflect credit upon the Negro race." It is significant that the building took shape as a result of an African American architect, with African American financing, and built with African American hands. The Reformer Building was the first building in
160-402: The True Reformer Building's dedication in 1903, the Reverend William Lee Taylor stated that the goal was to "put up a building in Washington that would reflect credit upon the Negro race." It is significant that the building took shape as a result of an African American architect, with African American financing, and built with African American hands. The Reformer Building was the first building in
176-716: The United States to be designed, financed, built, and owned by the African American community after Reconstruction. The Knights of Pythias bought the building in 1917. From 1937 to 1959, the Boys Club of the Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia, leased the building; Eleanor Roosevelt rededicated the building. Other tenants have included: Washington Conservancy, the DC Chapter of
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#1732775650753192-405: The United States to be designed, financed, built, and owned by the African American community after Reconstruction. The Knights of Pythias bought the building in 1917. From 1937 to 1959, the Boys Club of the Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia, leased the building; Eleanor Roosevelt rededicated the building. Other tenants have included: Washington Conservancy, the DC Chapter of
208-656: The United States. In 1902, Lankford moved to Washington, D.C. , to finish the design of the True Reformer Building . He was appointed supervising architect for the African Methodist Episcopal denomination. He organized the National Negro Business League chapter in Washington, D.C., in 1905, and served as president of the National Technical Association from 1941 to 1942. His Southern Aid Society building in Richmond, Virginia
224-470: The side of the building used to overlook the U Street Metro station. It was completed in 1997, and located on the sidewall of Mood Indigo. It was relocated to the True Reformer Building. The mural was removed in 2012 for restoration. Its removal was made permanent in 2013 due to damage. On 3 May 2019 a replica of the mural was returned to the building John Anderson Lankford John A. Lankford (December 4, 1874 – July 2, 1946), American architect. He
240-440: Was dedicated on July 15, 1903. It was designed by John Anderson Lankford , the city’s first African-American registered architect. The building was commissioned by the Grand United Order of True Reformers in 1902, and was dedicated on July 15, 1903. The Grand United Order of True Reformers started in 1873 as an African American fraternal association and temperance organization ; and was re-organized in c. 1875 into
256-465: Was the first professionally licensed African American architect in Virginia in 1922 and in the District of Columbia in 1924. He has been regarded as the "dean of black architecture". John Lankford was born on a farm near Potosi, Missouri , on December 4, 1874. He attended Lincoln Institute and Tuskegee Institute , historically black colleges . He studied architectural and mechanical drawing from
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