In 1888, Robert R. Taylor (Class of 1892), became the first black student enrolled at MIT. After graduation, he became the first accredited black architect and, over the course of his career, designed buildings for several historically black colleges and universities, including Tuskegee University.

scan of black and white photo of youthful black man with mustache in a suit with collar
Robert R. Taylor (Class of 1892), MIT’s first African-American graduate. Photo from the MIT Museum Collection.