A special exhibit in the Fisk Gallery of the San Bernardino County Museum in Redlands, California, shows the midcentury modern designs of Paul Revere Williams and Maria Kipp in an exhibit called Visions of Southern California.
Paul Revere Williams
Paul Revere Williams (1894-1980) graduated from USC’s School of Architecture and Engineering and, in 1921, he became the first African-American certified architect west of the Mississippi.
The Museum display has this to say about African-American architect Paul Revere Williams:
“Midcentury modernism took post-war America by storm. Sleek lines, gentle curves, and geometric patterns appeared in architecture and interior design. Paul Revere Williams, already famous for his classic residential architecture, became a pioneer in the new modernism. He designed homes for first-time owners and celebrities alike. As one of the most popular architects of his time, he paved the way for others in the African-American community.”
Maria Kipp
Maria Kipp (1900-1988) was the first woman accepted into the State Academy for the Textile Industry in Munchber, Bavaria. She moved to Los Angeles in 1924 and founded a textile business. Maria Kipp was the first woman in the United States to establish and manage a successful, modern textile company.