William H. Johnson, Sr.

William H. Johnson, Sr. was the first African American architect to join the Kansas City Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1965. Mr. Johnson began his career in Kansas City working as a draftsman for the firm of Cooper-Robinson, Carlson & O’Brien. He began his own career in 1965 with offices in the Law Building at 1201 Grand Boulevard. He incorporated W.H. Johnson & Associates in 1980 and practiced until the firm was closed in 1998. In addition to having offices in the Law building, he as had offices in the Lincoln Building in 18th & Vine, 3107 Troost and finally in his own house at 100 W. Bannister Road, which he designed in 1971. Mr. Johnson designed several public buildings including the Linwood YMCA at 3800 E. Linwood Blvd (1975), the Linwood Multipurpose Center addition at 3200 Wayne Ave (1971), the Allen Gardens Housing Project (demolished) at 3800 Elmwood (1971), and the Holy Temple Homes (demolished) at 5100 Leeds Trafficway (1970). He also designed the John & Sarah Burtis House (1970) in Sheraton estates, which was featured in the Kansas City Star.

Thank you to the Kansas City Chapter of the AIA for identifying their first African American member. We don’t have a comprehensive list of his works yet and if you have any information on him or his works, please let us know!  kchp@kcmo.org

SourceS

Polk City Directories for Kansas City Missouri, 1959 to 1993.

List of Architectural Drawings by William H. Johnson, Missouri Historical Society Kansas City Research Center.

Membership Records of the Kansas City Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Kansas City, MO.

Business Records for W.H. Johnson & Associates, Missouri Secretary of State.

Kansas City Star.