Background
William Russell 2nd Walker was born in 1884 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
William Russell 2nd Walker was born in 1884 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.
He matriculated at Brown University when twenty years of age, but left at the end of his Sophomore year to take up architectural study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Following graduation there with the class of 1910, Mr. Walker spent two years in Europe, broadening the scope of his training while a student in Paris Atliers.
Returning to Providence, he joined the firm of William R. Walker & Son as a junior partner, and in 1922 succeeded his father as head of the firm. Continuing active in practice the rest of his life, he designed many public schools in R. I. and Mass. - a field of work in which he attained prominence - also prepared plans for two large Asylums for the Insane, Masonic buildings, two Theatres in Providence, also the City Opera House, State College of Pharmacy and various other public structures.