Ed Gibson (1925-2011), Indiana's first African-American architect

It is with great sadness we heard the news that architect Ed Gibson died last week. He was a man of many firsts--first African-American architect registered in the state of Indiana, first African-American architect to hold the position of Indiana's State Architect, and the first African-American architect to have his own architectural firm in Indiana. To say he broke new ground in Indiana is an understatement.

A graduate of Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis, Gibson went on to the University of Illinois where he received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Architectural Engineering.

His long career, which spanned from 1945 to 2002 included work in both the public and private sectors. Some of the buildings he designed or renovated were located at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Evansville State Hospital, Central Elementary in Plainfield, Broad Ripple Library, renovations at Central Library in Indianapolis, IUPUI, IU Bloomington, including renovation of Ernie Pyle Hall, Hudnut Plaza and other HUD projects throughout Indiana. 

When Gibson closed his private practice in 1987 to work exclusively for Methodist Hospital, the Drawings + Documents Archive received a small collection of drawings that were left. Unfortunately most of the drawings in the office had already been discarded. But today we are glad to have a small but representative collection of the work of a man who broke tremendous ground and altered our built environment.


Edwin Gibson's obituary from the Indianapolis Star can be found here:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/indystar/obituary.aspx?n=edwin-a-gibson&pid=154741286

86, died in Danville, Indiana on Sunday, November 20, 2011. Born June 2, 1925, in Cumberland, Maryland, as a youth he moved to Indianapolis. Ed graduated in the top five percent of his class from the University of Illinois where he received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Architectural Engineering. Ed enjoyed a long career as an Architect. His first job as an architect was in Ft. Wayne, Indiana until he returned to Indianapolis in the mid-40s. He was the first African-American architect to be registered in the state of Indiana, to be appointed to an Indiana State Government position and to open his own architectural firm in the state of Indiana.

The family of Ed and Mary E. Gibson (deceased) include his sons, Edwin A. Gibson, Jr. (deceased), and Gary A. Gibson; his daughter Eve. M Williams; and five grandsons, Edwin A. Gibson, Elliott A. Gibson, Jason P. Gibson, Delford G. Williams IV, and Brenton P. Williams. He is also survived by his daughter-in law, Elizabeth Booth-Gibson, and two step granddaughters, Laura E. Hanley and Melinda L. Hanley.


Images: Hudnut Plaza, 1985 (22-10) and IMCPL renovation, 1970s (22-6), Ed Gibson & Associates Architectural Drawings Collection, Drawings + Documents Archive, Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries.