Robert Charles Bates

Robert Charles Bates
BornJanuary 27, 1869
Kingsville, Richland County, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedMay 2, 1950(1950-05-02) (aged 81)
Spencer, Tioga County, New York, U.S.
Other namesR. Charles Bates,
Robert C. Bates
EducationClaflin University (MA)
Occupation(s)Architect, educator
Known forDesign of early campus buildings at Claflin University, possibly the first Black teacher of architecture at a HBU, possibly the first African-American architecture textbook author
SpouseMaybelle Dean
Children5

Robert Charles Bates (January 27, 1869 – May 2, 1950), commonly known as R. Charles Bates, was an American architect, educator, and textbook author. He was an African American architect and helped design and build many of the Claflin University campus buildings, a historically black university (HBU) in South Carolina. He is thought to the first Black teacher of architecture at a HBU; and the first African American author of an architecture textbook.