ABSTRACT
Clyde Martin Drayton was born on March 1, 1915, in Southern Pines, North Carolina. Drayton graduated from Armstrong Technical High School in Washington, D.C., in 1932. From there he entered HOWARD UNIVERSITY School of Architecture and Engineering in 1935. After graduating from Howard University, Drayton found gainful employment as a draftsman for ALBERT IRVIN CASSELL in Washington, D.C. For twelve years Drayton “had a very important part in the designing and the supervising to completion of approximately ten million dollars ($10,000,000) worth of construction.”1 The projects ranged from vocational schools, housing developments, and shopping centers to children’s clinics, religious buildings, and houses. After years of busy and detailed work as a draftsman and privately heading a small architecture practice, Drayton founded the Clyde Drayton Architectural Firm in 1942. He also worked for LOUIS EDWIN FRY SR. “Drayton designed numerous commercial establishments in Washington, D.C., including Blackie’s House of Beef and Ed Murphy’s Supper Club on Georgia Ave.”2 Two notable houses designed by Drayton were the L.M.Bevins residence on Irving Street, NW, and the Julius Bryan residence on Hamilton Street, NE. He was the recipient of the Capitol Hill Society’s Restoration of the Year Award.
