Abstract
After emancipation, building trades-related occupations dominated those held by African American males in Austin, Texas (as well as many a Texas or US city). Little to nothing is known about these men, however. This paper explores how the architectural contributions of African American craftsmen and builders to the development of urban and rural communities can be brought to light by using Austin, Texas, as a case study. The identities and roles of African American craftsmen and builders, when interpreted through the lens of disparate sources, enable historians to reintroduce and reconsider their legacy. This paper explores who these men were, the building-related firms that employed them, their opportunities for self-employment, and the historic and current state of various buildings they erected throughout the city, especially in former freedmen communities that face rampant gentrification today. The methods by which this legacy is reconstructed—visual analysis of built works and examination of a variety of archival sources—allow for creation of an expanded historic context that is necessary for situating late nineteenth century African American builders in the canon of American architectural history.
Published Version
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