Julian Abele

Julian F. Abele
Julian Abele (photo Duke University Archives)
Born	Julian Francis Abele April 30, 1881 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Died	April 23, 1950(1950-04-23) (aged 68) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Nationality	USA
Alma mater	Cheyney University (1896) Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art (PMSIA) (1898) University of Pennsylvania, Department of Architecture (B.A., Architecture, 1902)
Occupation	architect
Notable work	Duke University Campus Duke University Chapel Cameron Indoor Stadium Allen Administrative Building (completed after his death)
Spouse(s)	Marguerite Bulle (m.1925)
Children	Julian Abele, Jr. (architect) Marguerite Marie Abele Nadia Boulanger Abele
Parent(s)	Charles Abele Mary Adelaide Jones Abele
Relatives	Absalom Jones (Episcopalian minister) Julian Abele Cook Jr. (judge) Julian Abele Cook (architect)

Julian Francis Abele (April 30, 1881 – April 23, 1950) was a prominent African-American architect, and chief designer in the offices of Horace Trumbauer. He contributed to the design of more than 400 buildings, including the Widener Memorial Library at Harvard University (1912–15), the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia (1918–27), and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (1914–28). He was the primary designer of the west campus of Duke University (1924–54). Abele's contributions to the Trumbauer firm were great, but the only building for which he claimed authorship during Trumbauer's lifetime was the Duke University Chapel; after Trumbauer's death, he was more open in claiming credit for his work, which included the original architectural drawings for Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Julian Abele was born in Philadelphia into a prominent family. His maternal grandfather was Robert Jones, who in the late 18th century founded the city's Lombard Street Central Presbyterian Church. He was also related to Absalom Jones, who established the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in 1794, the first black church in Philadelphia. His nephew, Julian Abele Cook, worked as the Building Coordinator for Howard University, and Abele's son, Julian Francis Abele, Jr. was an architectural engineer.

Abele's temperament and his life defy easy characterization. He was a dedicated francophile, and his wife was French. A devotee of the Philadelphia Orchestra as well as of the University of Pennsylvania football team, he was reserved and always immaculately dressed. One friend noted that even on vacations at the beach he always wore his suit to the boardwalk.