Archie Alphonso Alexander Archie Alexander was an African American engineer from Iowa and the senior partner in the firm Alexander and Repass. In the 1940s, the firm was hired to build a bridge and seawall at the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/430">Tidal Basin</a>. Alexander spearheaded the project and brought in an integrated construction crew. <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Archie+Alphonso+Alexander">Archie Alphonso Alexander</a> Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. <a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/oem2002007913/PP/">View original photograph</a>. <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1920-1949">1920-1949</a>