samuel m. plato (1882–1957) was an african-american architect and building contractor who is noted for his work on federal housing projects and u.s. post offices, as well as designing and building other structures in the united states such as private homes, banks, churches, and schools. during world war ii, the alabama native was one of the few african-american contractors in the country to be awarded wartime building contracts, which included wake and midway halls (dormitories for more than 800 african-american defense workers in washington, d.c.). he also received contracts to build at least thirty-eight u.s. post offices across the country.