Alonzo Robinson, Jr.: Rediscovering Wisconsin’s First Black Architect

About this event

Lecture by Justin Miller about Alonzo Robinson, Jr., Wisconsin’s first Black architect. The program will take place at the MAS Context Reading Room (1564 North Damen Avenue, Suite 204, Chicago, Illinois 60622).

Alonzo Robinson, Jr., (1923–2000) was the first registered Black architect in Wisconsin. With a career spanning four decades, Robinson brought a contextual Modernist sensibility to his commissions in Milwaukee and its surrounding suburbs. He worked both in the public sector, designing municipal, recreation, and social services buildings; and in private practice, designing churches, beauty salons, offices, and supermarkets primarily for a Black clientele. Although often overlooked as individual buildings, this collective network of private sector commissions forms Robinson’s greatest legacy of helping to build a resilient infrastructure that sustained and empowered Milwaukee’s African American community.

Robinson’s architectural legacy remained largely unrecognized after his death but has seen a renewed interest in recent years thanks to efforts of local historic preservation groups and the architect’s own family. In 2023, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee undertook the first comprehensive study of Robinson’s work, compiling a catalog of projects from interviews, oral histories, newspaper archives, and historic building permits. The resulting study report has served as a catalyst for other projects, including a recent historic landmark designation for Robinson’s most significant private sector commission.

During the talk, architectural historian Justin Miller will discuss the life and career of Alonzo Robinson, Jr. along with ongoing efforts to share the story of this remarkable and pioneering architect.

UW-Milwaukee’s study was supported by a grant from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program of the National Trust for Historic Places.

For more information about this talk, please visit: https://mascontext.com/events/alonzo-robinson-jr-rediscovering-wisconsins-first-black-architect

MAS Context is supported in part by private donations. For information about how to support MAS Context, please visit: https://mascontext.com/support

NOTE

Please note that an RSVP does not guarantee entry. Admission is on a first come, first served basis. If we reach capacity, we will no longer be able to admit additional attendees.

From MAS Context