12 Facts About Albert Cassell

Albert Irvin Cassell was a prominent mid-20th-century African-American architect in Washington, DC, whose work shaped many academic communities in the United States.

Albert Cassell designed buildings for Howard University in Washington DC, Morgan State University in Baltimore, and Virginia Union University in Richmond.

Albert Cassell's father Albert T Cassell was a coal truck driver and his mother Charlotte Cassell aka "Lottie" was a laundress.

Albert Cassell began his education in the segregated Baltimore public school system, but moved to New York in 1909 where he began attending Douglas High School.

At Douglas High, Albert Cassell studied drafting under Ralph Victor Cook.

In 1919, Cassell was awarded his degree from Cornell University, and began his career working with architect William A Hazel.

In 1920, Mr Albert Cassell joined in the Architecture Department of Howard University as assistant professor.

Just two years later, in 1922, Albert Cassell had become University Architect and head of the Architecture Department at Howard.

Albert Cassell worked at Howard University for eighteen years, serving as an instructor, land manager, surveyor, and architect.

Albert Cassell's work included buildings at Virginia Union University, Provident Hospital in Baltimore, various Masonic temples, as well as smaller works for select commercial and residential clients.

Albert Cassell went on to work for several other large clients such as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and the government of the District of Columbia.

At a young age, Albert Cassell determined that his children would all go to Cornell and all become architects.