Thomas Boyde: Rochester's First Black Architect In-Person
During the 1930s-70s, architect Thomas W. Boyde Jr. designed hundreds of buildings in the Rochester area that were instrumental in shaping the mid-century city and suburbs at a time when he, the first African American architect in Rochester, would not have been welcome as a resident of many suburban neighborhoods where he worked. Boyde’s body of work has yet to be fully appreciated, as debates over the extent of his involvement in a handful of prominent projects have overshadowed his real contributions to the built environment. This presentation, delivered by three experts on the subject, explores Boyde’s life and his prolific career, challenges in documenting the work of African American architects practicing in the mid-twentieth century, and ways to bring new appreciation to the work of this supremely talented architect who left a remarkable legacy in the greater Rochester area.
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