Section or Category (Heading 5): Arts & Culture

Title (H1): Architect With Local Roots Plays Part in Black History

Staff Report

James A. Chaffers, D. Arch., FAIA, NCARB, is a 1959 Valedictorian graduate of ‘old’ (but not forgotten) Lincoln High School of Ruston, Louisiana. He continued his education at Southern University in Baton Rouge, graduating Magna cum laude.

After completing five years of military service as an officer — including combat duty in Vietnam, Chaffers went on to graduate from the University of Michigan and became the recipient of the nation’s first Professional Doctor of Architecture degree. Chaffers completed further architecture and engineering studies at Stanford University, Terman Engineering Center, Palo Alto, CA. Upon receiving his doctorate, Dr. Chaffers accepted an invitation to join the faculty of the College of Architecture at the University of Michigan. After 41 years, he still teaches as an Emeritus Professor of Architecture.