African American Architecture in St. Louis: The Case of Charles E. Fleming

In this panel discussion, Washington University architectural historians Shantel Blakely and Eric Mumford will join architect Michael Willis (AB '73; MArch/MSW '76) in an interview of Charles E. Fleming (UC ‘61) about his more than 50 years of experience as an architect. As one of the first African Americans to earn a degree in architecture from Washington University, Fleming has made significant contributions both regionally and nationally to the field of modern architecture, including numerous residential projects in the St. Louis region. The discussion will delve into Fleming’s design approach and experience related to several of these projects completed during the late 1960s and early 1970s—a time of great social and spatial change in the United States following postwar efforts to address racial discrimination in housing. The program will feature projects emblematic of his architectural practice, most notably Fleming-designed houses in Town and Country, including a house for himself, completed in 1972. This house is an innovative three-story informal design in wood, reflecting Fleming’s design expertise with this material, and is the subject of a book in progress by Mumford and Blakely.

This program is a collaboration between the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum and the College of Architecture.

The program will include live closed captions.

Free, but registration is required (link to come).

A recording of the program will become available on the Museum's YouTube channel in the weeks following.

For more information, email Ida McCall at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

https://www.kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu/events/panel-discussions/14256