The Greece Historical Society (GHS) is sponsoring a Cultural Resource Survey of The Architecture of Thomas W. Boyde, Jr., Rochester’s first African American architect. The project is funded by grants from the Rochester Area Community Foundation. It also receives support from the Preservation League of New York State/New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). Individual donations contribute to the funding as well.
Thomas W. Boyde, Jr. was a prolific designer of Mid-Century Modern homes and businesses. He also did significant work designing buildings for economically disadvantaged communities. The survey will help identify Boyde’s built work across Western New York. It includes several houses in the town of Greece. It will also bring new appreciation to this supremely talented architect. He left a remarkable legacy in the greater Rochester area.
The research team includes:
- Christopher Brandt, architect at Bero Architecture PLLC;
- Jeffrey A. Harris is known as “Free”. He is an independent historian and a historic preservation consultant from Hampton, VA.
- Katie Eggers Comeau, a former architectural historian at Bero.
- Gina M. DiBella, preservation consultant from Greece.
- Jenna Huizinga, Brighton Historian’s Office intern and SUNY Geneseo student
- Alexis Rivers, research assistant.
The project team discovered additional drawings, correspondence, and interviews while conducting research. These findings went beyond the original scope of the project. They are now working to raise additional funds to include this new information and complete the project.
The children were housed in “English Cottages.” Thomas Boyde, Jr., Rochester’s first African American architect, had a hand in designing some of the features of these cottages.
For more information on Thomas W. Boyde, Jr. and some of the work the project team has already completed, read this AIA Rochester article.
For more information on Thomas W. Boyde, Jr., you can learn about some of the work the project team has completed. View their presentation made at the Syracuse University School of Architecture on September 10, 2021, at https://soa.syr.edu/live/events/1018-a-legacy-deferred-the-architecture-of-thomas-w
Please consider contributing to further research on Mr. Boyde.
