"George Washington Foster (1866-1923)

Was an early African- American architect.He was among the first African American licensed by the State of New Jersey and later New York (1916).The first African American architect licensed by the State of New York was Vertner Woodson Tandy (1885-1949),who partnered with George in the firm of Tandy and Foster,which was active from 1908-1914.Born in December in Newark,New Jersey,George is said to have attended Cooper Union and worked in the office of Henry Hardenbergh from 1888to 1889,who designed the New York City landmarks Dakota Apartment Building,Plaza Hotel,and the first Waldorf-Astoria,on the present site of the Empire State Building.During his time with Hardenbergh,he would have worked on the Waldorf Hotel.He may also worked the Flatiron Building,designed by the Chicago-based firm of D.H. Burnham.The firm of Tandy&Foster designed St.Philip's Episcopal Church (Harlem, New York) in 1910.After George was licensed to practice in New York and maintained his own office until his death.He died in 1923 in a house he designed on Colony Avenue,in Bergen County,Park Ridge,New Jersey.