Albert Cassell
Encyclopedia
Albert Irvin Cassell was a prominent mid-twentieth-century African American
architect
in Washington, D.C., whose work shaped many academic communities in the United States. He designed buildings for Howard University
in Washington D.C., Morgan State University
in Baltimore, and Virginia Union University
in Richmond. Cassell also designed and built civic structures for the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia.
, Maryland on June 25, 1895, the third child of Albert Truman Cassell and Charlotte Cassell.
His father Albert T. Cassell was a coal truck driver and his mother Charlotte Cassell aka "Lottie" was a laundress. Albert Cassell began his education in the segregated Baltimore public school system, but moved to New York in 1909 where he began attending Douglas High School. At Douglas High, Cassell studied drafting under Ralph Victor Cook. With Cook's assistance, Cassell was admitted to the Cornell University
architecture program in 1915.
After completing two years at Cornell, Cassell's studies were interrupted by service in the US Army in World War I
. He served in France, but not in combat, and was honorably discharged in 1919 as a second lieutenant in the 351st Heavy Field Artillery Regiment. In 1919 Cassell was awarded his degree from Cornell University, and began his career working with architect William A. Hazel. In 1920, Mr. Cassell joined in the Architecture Department of Howard University
as assistant professor. Just two years later, in 1922, Cassell had become University Architect and head of the Architecture Department at Howard.
for eighteen years, serving as an instructor, land manager, surveyor, and architect. Cassell's vision and work helped shape the campus through his "Twenty Year Plan", through which he designed numerous campus buildings. His most important design at Howard, was the Founders Library, a building which evoked both the Georgian architecture
revival style and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. This building would become an architectural and educational symbol for the university.
While at Howard, Cassell also designed buildings for other institutional clients. His work included buildings at Virginia Union University
, Provident Hospital
in Baltimore
, various Masonic temples, as well as smaller works for select commercial and residential clients.
Following his time at Howard University
, Cassell went on to design several buildings for Morgan State College (now Morgan State University
) in Baltimore. In his later years he joined with other African-American architects to form the firm of Cassell, Gray & Sutton. He went on to work for several other large clients such as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
and the government of the District of Columbia.
As his final project, Cassell sought to develop Chesapeake Heights on the Bay, a 520 acres (2.1 km²) summer resort community for African-Americans. The project was to feature houses, a motel, shopping centers, a pier, a marina, beaches, and a clubhouse fronting the Chesapeake Bay. Roads and a few homes were built by 1969, but the project ended with Cassell's death in that same year.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
in Washington, D.C., whose work shaped many academic communities in the United States. He designed buildings for Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in Washington D.C., Morgan State University
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
in Baltimore, and Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...
in Richmond. Cassell also designed and built civic structures for the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Early life
Albert Irvin Cassell was born in TowsonTowson
-Places:In the United States:*Towson, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Maryland**Towson Center, an arena in Towson, Maryland**Towson Town Center, a shopping mall in Towson, Maryland*Fort Towson, Oklahoma, a community in Oklahoma...
, Maryland on June 25, 1895, the third child of Albert Truman Cassell and Charlotte Cassell.
His father Albert T. Cassell was a coal truck driver and his mother Charlotte Cassell aka "Lottie" was a laundress. Albert Cassell began his education in the segregated Baltimore public school system, but moved to New York in 1909 where he began attending Douglas High School. At Douglas High, Cassell studied drafting under Ralph Victor Cook. With Cook's assistance, Cassell was admitted to the Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
architecture program in 1915.
After completing two years at Cornell, Cassell's studies were interrupted by service in the US Army in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He served in France, but not in combat, and was honorably discharged in 1919 as a second lieutenant in the 351st Heavy Field Artillery Regiment. In 1919 Cassell was awarded his degree from Cornell University, and began his career working with architect William A. Hazel. In 1920, Mr. Cassell joined in the Architecture Department of Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
as assistant professor. Just two years later, in 1922, Cassell had become University Architect and head of the Architecture Department at Howard.
Career
Cassell worked at Howard UniversityHoward University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
for eighteen years, serving as an instructor, land manager, surveyor, and architect. Cassell's vision and work helped shape the campus through his "Twenty Year Plan", through which he designed numerous campus buildings. His most important design at Howard, was the Founders Library, a building which evoked both the Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
revival style and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. This building would become an architectural and educational symbol for the university.
While at Howard, Cassell also designed buildings for other institutional clients. His work included buildings at Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University is a historically black university located in Richmond, Virginia, United States. It took its present name in 1899 upon the merger of two older schools, Richmond Theological Institute and Wayland Seminary, each founded after the end of American Civil War by the American...
, Provident Hospital
Provident Hospital (Baltimore)
Provident Hospital began as a 10-bed clinic in a private residence at 419 Orchard St, in northwest Baltimore, Maryland in 1894 to provide both medical treatment and training for Black nurses and doctors...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, various Masonic temples, as well as smaller works for select commercial and residential clients.
Following his time at Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, Cassell went on to design several buildings for Morgan State College (now Morgan State University
Morgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
) in Baltimore. In his later years he joined with other African-American architects to form the firm of Cassell, Gray & Sutton. He went on to work for several other large clients such as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. It comprises the District of Columbia and Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and Saint Mary's counties in the state of Maryland....
and the government of the District of Columbia.
As his final project, Cassell sought to develop Chesapeake Heights on the Bay, a 520 acres (2.1 km²) summer resort community for African-Americans. The project was to feature houses, a motel, shopping centers, a pier, a marina, beaches, and a clubhouse fronting the Chesapeake Bay. Roads and a few homes were built by 1969, but the project ended with Cassell's death in that same year.