Paul R. Williams: Architectural Visions from Hollywood to Fort Wayne

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026 at 01:00 pm UTC-05:00

Allen County Public Library | Fort Wayne

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
Publisher/HostAuburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
Paul R. Williams: Architectural Visions from Hollywood to Fort Wayne
Advertisement
Paul R. Williams (1894–1980), the first African American member of the AIA and famed “Architect to the Stars,” designed iconic homes for Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, and Barbara Stanwyck, as well as landmarks like the Beverly Hills Hotel redesign and the LAX Theme Building.
His work also touched the automotive world through E.L. Cord, who commissioned Williams’s Beverly Hills estate, Cordhaven. In Northeast Indiana, Dr. Theodore and Beatrice Borders hired him to design their c.1954 Nevada Avenue home, showing how his visionary style reached far beyond Hollywood.
This program celebrates Williams’s national impact and his regional connections, highlighting a legacy defined by elegance, innovation, and enduring influence.
This lecture is presented in partnership between the African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne, ARCH Inc., Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Program Fort Wayne Committee, Allen County Public Library, and the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum.
This will be presented at The Allen County Public Library Main Branch, Genealogy Lecture Hall
It is an entirely free event
Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Allen County Public Library, 342 W Washington Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46802-3023, United States

Icon
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

Ask AI if this event suits you:

More Events in Fort Wayne

97.3 WMEE Family Expo
Sat, 21 Feb at 09:00 am 97.3 WMEE Family Expo

4000 Parnell Ave, Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1414, United States

97.3 WMEE Family Festival 2026
Sat, 21 Feb at 09:00 am 97.3 WMEE Family Festival 2026

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum

Northern Steppes Build Day
Sat, 21 Feb at 11:00 am Northern Steppes Build Day

TekVenture Makerspace

Legacy in Motion Workshop: A Chicago Steppin\u2019 Experience
Sat, 21 Feb at 11:00 am Legacy in Motion Workshop: A Chicago Steppin’ Experience

Snyder Academic Center

New Haven Baseball 9 Pin No Tap Tournament
Sat, 21 Feb at 12:00 pm New Haven Baseball 9 Pin No Tap Tournament

3810 Lake Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN, United States, Indiana 46805

Tea with Tinkerbell
Sat, 21 Feb at 12:00 pm Tea with Tinkerbell

Philharmonic Center, 826 Ewing St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Uranus Climb and Crawl
Sat, 21 Feb at 01:30 pm Uranus Climb and Crawl

Downtown Fort Wayne

We the People
Sat, 21 Feb at 02:00 pm We the People

437 E Berry St

Riverfront Lunar New Year
Sat, 21 Feb at 03:00 pm Riverfront Lunar New Year

202 Superior Street, Fort Wayne, IN, United States, Indiana 46802

SFFW @ Peter Pan and Wendy
Sat, 21 Feb at 04:30 pm SFFW @ Peter Pan and Wendy

First Presbyterian Theater

Vince Carone Live @ Mizpah Shrine Center
Sat, 21 Feb at 05:00 pm Vince Carone Live @ Mizpah Shrine Center

1015 Memorial Way, Fort Wayne, IN, United States, Indiana 46805

Fort Wayne is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Fort Wayne Events