Lester Oliver Bankhead
Lester Oliver Bankhead (1912–1997), was an American architect,[1][2] known for his modernist church designs. In the 1950s, he was a pioneering Black architect in Los Angeles, California.[1] His architecture firm went by the names Bankhead's Building Design Services, and later as Lester O. Bankhead Design Group.[3]
Lester Oliver Bankhead | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 20, 1912[1] |
| Died | 1997 |
| Education | UCLA Extension, Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Trade–Technical College |
| Alma mater | Voorhees University |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Known for | Architecture in Los Angeles in the 1950s |
| Spouse | Mary Wright |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
Lester Oliver Bankhead was born on April 20, 1912, in Union, South Carolina.[1] He was born to parents Pearl Eugenia Eskew and John Hayes Bankhead, and was the eldest of six children.[4][3] His mother was a teacher and had attended Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University); his father was a farmer and a minister.[3] His early education was in a one-room Rosenwald School where his mother taught in Cherokee County, South Carolina.[3] He may have also attended Sims High School in Union.[3]
He had wanted to attend Tuskegee Institute like his mother, however he couldn’t afford to do so. Instead he enrolled in 1937 at Voorhees University in Denmark, South Carolina; and was able to support his education with work as a barber.[5][3] He graduated (from Voorhees) with a degree in agriculture and a certificate (1941) in carpentry.[3] Because of his drafting abilities, Bankhead was given opportunities to assist drafting instructors.[3]
In 1942 during World War II, he was drafted to the United States Army where he served in Casablanca.[3] He was discharged from the military in 1945, and moved to Los Angeles.[3] In 1946, Bankhead married Mary Wright and together they had two daughters.[3]
Career
Bankhead opened a barber shop after arriving in Los Angeles, "Bankhead's Barbershop".[3] He continued his education after the war at the extension program at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Otis Art Institute, Los Angeles City College, and Los Angeles Trade–Technical College.[3] Bankhead tried to work with architect Paul Revere Williams, but he was rejected for being too skilled for an entry level role.[3]
He briefly worked with Roab Construction Company.[3] By the 1950s, Bankhead had his own architecture firm, and one of his earliest works was an apartment building on Washington Boulevard.[3] In 1962, Bankhead received a contractors license from the California Contractors State License Board.[3] His main focus was church design, but he also created homes including homes for celebrities.[3] He was a mentor for some forty African American architects in their early careers.[3]
Bankhead died in 1997 in Los Angeles.[4] He was interviewed in 1989 and 1990 by Wesley H. Henderson and is part of the UCLA Oral History Program archives.[6] Bankhead 's profile was included in the biographical dictionary African American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary, 1865–1945 (2004).
Works
- Chapel of Faith Baptist Church, 7931 San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, California[4]
- Greater Life Missionary Church, Los Angeles, California[4]
- New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church (now Greater New Jerusalem Baptist), 4927 South Western Avenue, Los Angeles, California[4]
- Miracle Baptist Church, Los Angeles, California[3]
- Trinity Baptist Church, Los Angeles, California[3]
- United Revelation Church in God, Los Angeles, California[3]
References
- "Lester Oliver Bankhead (1912-1997)". BlackPast.org. 2007-01-21. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
- Saur, K. G. (2021). "Bankhead, Lester Oliver". De Gruyter. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
- Wilson, Dreck Spurlock (2004-03-01). African American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary, 1865-1945. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-95628-8.
- "Lester Bankhead, Architect born". African American Registry (AAREG). Retrieved 2023-02-12.
- Brooks, F. Erik; Starks, Glenn L. (2011-09-30). Historically Black Colleges and Universities: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-313-39415-7.
- The UCLA Oral History Program: Catalog of the Collection. University of California, Los Angeles Oral History Program. Oral History Program, Department of Special Collections, University of California, Los Angeles. 1999. p. 9.
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Further reading
- Henderson, Wesley H. (1992). African-American architects in Los Angeles: Lester O. Bankhead. University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Los Angeles Oral History Program. Regents of the University of California.