Young and Morrow Building

Young and Morrow Building The Young and Morrow Building is an eight-story Art Deco commercial structure located in Atlanta, Georgia. Completed in 1930, it is historically significant for housing the offices of prominent African-American attorneys during the mid-20th century, who played a crucial role in the legal battles of the Civil Rights Movement in the Southern United States. Its legacy is tied to the professional and economic advancement of Black citizens in the Jim Crow era and its subsequent recognition as a contributing property to the Fairlie-Poplar Historic District.

History and Construction

The Young and Morrow Building was commissioned by its namesakes, John H. Young and J. W. Morrow, two successful African-American entrepreneurs. Construction began in 1929 and was completed the following year during the onset of the Great Depression. The building was designed by the noted Atlanta architect A. Ten Eyck Brown, whose firm was also responsible for other significant local structures like the Fulton County Courthouse. The general contractor was Robert & Company, a major Southern engineering firm. Financed primarily through the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, one of the largest Black-owned financial institutions in the nation, the project symbolized a major achievement in African-American business history. Its location in the heart of Atlanta’s business district was a bold statement of Black economic progress during a period of strict racial segregation.

Role in the Civil Rights Movement

The building’s primary significance stems from its role as a professional hub for African-American lawyers who challenged Jim Crow laws. For decades, it housed the law offices of attorneys such as A. T. Walden, a co-founder of the Atlanta Negro Voters League, and Donald L. Hollowell, a leading civil rights attorney who represented Martin Luther King Jr. and successfully litigated the desegregation of the University of Georgia. These attorneys, often collaborating with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, used the building as a base to prepare cases addressing voter suppression, school segregation, and unfair employment discrimination. The concentration of legal talent there provided essential infrastructure for the movement’s strategy of using the federal courts to dismantle institutionalized racism, contributing to landmark decisions like Brown v. Board of Education.

Architectural Significance

Architecturally, the Young and Morrow Building is a fine example of late 1920s Art Deco commercial design. A. Ten Eyck Brown employed the style’s characteristic geometric patterning, streamlined forms, and vertical emphasis in the building’s façade. The use of materials like terracotta and limestone was typical for substantial commercial projects of the era. Its design reflects the transition from the ornate styles of the early 20th century to the more modern, austere aesthetics that would follow. As a substantial investment by Black businessmen, its architectural quality was a deliberate assertion of permanence and success, standing in contrast to the dilapidated facilities often imposed on Black professionals. It remains a physically prominent element of Atlanta’s historic streetscape.

Notable Tenants and Activities

Beyond its famed legal tenants, the building hosted a variety of professional offices vital to Atlanta’s Black community. These included doctors, dentists, and insurance agents. The building itself was managed by the Citizens Trust Company, another pivotal Black-owned bank. This created a synergistic ecosystem where Black professionals could support each other’s businesses, circumventing the exclusionary practices of the white-dominated downtown. The offices were frequented by civil rights leaders for strategy meetings, and the building served as an informal clearinghouse for movement activity. Its tenants embodied the Atlanta University Center-educated professional class that led much of the organized resistance to segregation in the city.

Legacy and Preservation Status

The legacy of the Young and Morrow Building is that of a tangible monument to Black self-reliance and legal activism during the Civil Rights Movement. As the movement achieved major legislative victories like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the building’s specific role evolved, but its historical importance was cemented. It was listed as a contributing property to the Fairlie-Poplar Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. This designation helps protect its architectural integrity. While the building has undergone modifications, preservation efforts highlight its story as part of the broader narrative of African-American history in Atlanta. It stands as a reminder of the foundational role that economic enterprise and professional expertise played in sustaining the long struggle for civil and political rights in America.