George Washington Foster (1866-1923) was an early African-American architect. He was among the first African-American architects licensed by the State of New Jersey in 1908, and later New York (1916). The first African-American architect licensed by the State of New York was Vertner Woodson Tandy (1885 – 1949), who partnered with Forster in the firm of Tandy and Foster, which was active from 1908 to 1914.

Born December 1866 in Newark, New Jersey

Newark, New Jersey

Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...

, Foster is said to have attended Cooper Union

Cooper Union

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...

 and worked in the office of Henry Hardenbergh from 1888 to 1889, who designed the New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 landmarks Dakota Apartment Building, Plaza Hotel

Plaza Hotel

The Plaza Hotel in New York City is a landmark 20-story luxury hotel with a height of and length of that occupies the west side of Grand Army Plaza, from which it derives its name, and extends along Central Park South in Manhattan. Fifth Avenue extends along the east side of Grand Army Plaza...

, and the first Waldorf-Astoria, on the present site of the Empire State Building

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...

. During his time with Hardenbergh, he would have worked on the Waldorf Hotel. He may also have worked on the Flatiron Building, designed by the Chicago-based firm of D. H. Burnham.

The firm of Tandy & Foster

Tandy & Foster

Tandy & Foster was an American architectural firm active from 1908 to 1914 in New York and New Jersey, based in New York City.Founded in 1908 by Vertner Woodson Tandy and George Washington Foster...

 designed St. Philip's Episcopal Church (Harlem, New York)

St. Philip's Episcopal Church (Harlem, New York)

St. Philip's Church also known as St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church, is a historic Episcopal church located at 204 West 134th Street, just west of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard ) in Harlem, New York, New York. It was founded in 1809 by Free Africans worshiping at Trinity Church, Wall...

 in 1910. After 1915, Foster was licensed to practice in New York and maintained his own office until his death.

He died 1923 in a house he designed on Colony Avenue, in Bergen County, Park Ridge, New Jersey

Park Ridge, New Jersey

Park Ridge is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. Park Ridge had a population of 8,645 as of the 2010 United States Census....

.