William R. Walker (1830-1905) began practicing architecture in the 1860s. In 1881 his son, William H. Walker (1865-1922) became partner in the firm of William R. Walker and Son. Both father and son were active in military organizations, connections that were influential in obtaining commissions for the armories in Westerly, Woonsocket, Warwick, and both the Cranston Street (1907) and North Main Street armories in Providence. In addition to the armories, the firm built town halls in Cumberland, Warren, and Warwick, Rhode Island. In 1922 the son of William H. Walker, William R. Walker II (1884-1936), succeeded as head of the firm, continuing the practice after his predecessors.