BLACK HISTORY 365
Robert P. Madison
Cleveland's own Robert P. Madison was born July 28, 1923.
Mr. Madison graduated from East Technical High in 1940 with honors in science and mathematics. He entered the school of architecture at Howard University, but interrupted his studies to serve in the US Army African American division as a second lieutenant. He received 3 combat ribbons and purple heart. After discharge, he was bluntly denied admission to Western Reserve University. He wasn’t going to take rejection lying down, as a veteran of WWII, and more importantly as a person. Madison returned to the school next day wearing his army uniform decorated with his purple heart, combat infantry badge and five combat ribbons. He Told the dean of admission my blood has been spilled on the soil of Italy to make this country free. The dean agreed to let the young veteran into the school on the condition he passed the preliminary test. In 1948 he received a B.A in architecture from W.R.U.
He was the First African to graduate from W.R.U. and first in state of Ohio. He went to Harvard University graduate school of design earning a master’s degree in 1951, completed his education at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris.
In 1954 he open Robert P. Madison International, Inc. in Glenville, with his brothers, the first black owned architecture firm in Ohio.
Some of the major projects by the Robert P. Madison International, Inc. include:
The U.S. Embassy in Dakar Senegal
An Engineering and nuclear facility at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama
A 220-unit housing development in Detroit
State of Ohio computer center in Columbus
R.T.A waterfront line
Concourse C at the Hopkins international airport
Frank J Lausche office building downtown Cleveland
Fatima Family Center and Martin De Porres center
Residential units at Eliza Bryant Village
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The Great Lakes Science Center
Louis Stokes wing of the Cleveland Public Library
Cleveland Browns stadium
Mr. Madison retired in 2016 at age 93 and sold the firm to three of his employees: his nephew Kevin, Kevin's wife Sandra, and Robert Klann. Sandra is majority owner, and today it is the largest Black female owned architecture firm in Ohio.
Mr. Madison graduated from East Technical High in 1940 with honors in science and mathematics. He entered the school of architecture at Howard University, but interrupted his studies to serve in the US Army African American division as a second lieutenant. He received 3 combat ribbons and purple heart. After discharge, he was bluntly denied admission to Western Reserve University. He wasn’t going to take rejection lying down, as a veteran of WWII, and more importantly as a person. Madison returned to the school next day wearing his army uniform decorated with his purple heart, combat infantry badge and five combat ribbons. He Told the dean of admission my blood has been spilled on the soil of Italy to make this country free. The dean agreed to let the young veteran into the school on the condition he passed the preliminary test. In 1948 he received a B.A in architecture from W.R.U.
He was the First African to graduate from W.R.U. and first in state of Ohio. He went to Harvard University graduate school of design earning a master’s degree in 1951, completed his education at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris.
In 1954 he open Robert P. Madison International, Inc. in Glenville, with his brothers, the first black owned architecture firm in Ohio.
Some of the major projects by the Robert P. Madison International, Inc. include:
The U.S. Embassy in Dakar Senegal
An Engineering and nuclear facility at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama
A 220-unit housing development in Detroit
State of Ohio computer center in Columbus
R.T.A waterfront line
Concourse C at the Hopkins international airport
Frank J Lausche office building downtown Cleveland
Fatima Family Center and Martin De Porres center
Residential units at Eliza Bryant Village
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The Great Lakes Science Center
Louis Stokes wing of the Cleveland Public Library
Cleveland Browns stadium
Mr. Madison retired in 2016 at age 93 and sold the firm to three of his employees: his nephew Kevin, Kevin's wife Sandra, and Robert Klann. Sandra is majority owner, and today it is the largest Black female owned architecture firm in Ohio.