I love this stuff. I'm not so knowledgeable about museums, but there's many a story about black bibliophiles. Check this one out:
Blockson, Charles L. /"Damn Rare": The Memoirs of an African-American Bibliophile/. Tracy, CA: Quantum Leap Publisher, Inc., 1998. On 11/23/2010 10:40 AM, c b wrote: > Margaret Burroughs: Co-founder of DuSable Museum and > prominent artist > > She started Chicago's renowned African American history > museum in her living room nearly 50 years ago > > By Kristen Schorsch > Chicago Tribune > November 21, 2010 > http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/obituaries/ct-met-burroughs-obit-1122-20101121,0,7991807.story > > Margaret Burroughs, an artist, teacher and longtime > Chicago Park District commissioner, started the > nationally recognized DuSable Museum of African > American History in the living room of her South Side > home almost 50 years ago. > > Mrs. Burroughs helped shape some of Chicago's most > lasting institutions. She and her husband, the late > Charles Burroughs, co-founded the DuSable Museum in > 1961, and she was one of several artists and art > supporters who 70 years ago started the South Side > Community Art Center. > > "To me, she's a model for dreaming big. She's a model > for doing the work that it takes to do those dreams," > said Cheryl Blackwell Bryson, chairwoman of the DuSable > Museum's board of trustees. "Not everybody can build an > institution that becomes a road map for other ethnic > groups around the world to emulate, an institution that > is designed to impact lives." > > Mrs. Burroughs died Sunday, Nov. 21, in her home in the > city's Bronzeville neighborhood, surrounded by family, > according to the museum. Relatives said she was 95. > Other records indicate she was 93. > > In a statement, President Barack Obama praised Mrs. > Burroughs' generosity and commitment. > > "Michelle and I are saddened by the passing of Dr. > Margaret Burroughs, who was widely admired for her > contributions to American culture as an esteemed > artist, historian, educator and mentor," Obama said in > a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dr. > Burroughs' family and loved ones. Her legacy will live > on in Chicago and around the world." > > Born in St. Rose, La., Mrs. Burroughs moved to Chicago > as a child. She attended the Chicago Teachers College > and received bachelor's and master's degrees from the > Art Institute of Chicago. She later received several > honorary degrees and was well known as "Dr. Burroughs." > > Her long resume includes teaching for more than 20 > years at DuSable High School. She also taught at > Kennedy-King College. > > Mayor Richard Daley said: "Through her artistic talent > and wide breadth of knowledge, she gave us a cultural > gem, the DuSable Museum of African American History. > But she herself was a cultural institution." > > Mrs. Burroughs immersed herself in art at a young age. > In her early 20s, she joined several others in starting > the South Side Community Art Center. Executive director > Faheem Majeed said Mrs. Burroughs, who lived across the > street from the Bronzeville center, remained active in > the organization and recently was campaigning to help > the center buy an adjacent vacant lot. > > "Dr. Burroughs was a titan," Majeed said. "She had a > great influence as an institution builder and a role > model, but the amazing thing was how accessible she > was. She still rode the bus to go grocery shopping." > > She set up a legendary salon in Bronzeville, which > attracted the likes of sociologist W.E.B. DuBois and > writer James Baldwin. Unhappy that there were few > places for black artists to showcase their work, she > helped launch an art fair in the late 1950s at a > shopping center at 35th Street and King Drive. > > A few years later, hoping to bring black history to the > forefront in Chicago, she and her husband planted the > seeds for what would become a thriving museum with > about 100 items in their living room. > > They called their creation the Ebony Museum of Negro > History and Art. It would become the DuSable Museum, > which today boasts a collection of more than 100,000 > pieces in its Washington Park building, with plans to > expand. > > Mrs. Burroughs also helped start the National > Conference of African-American Artists. > > She taught art and poetry to prison inmates, according > to the Chicago Park District. For the last 35 years, > she and the Rev. Jesse Jackson spent Christmas Day at > the Cook County Jail. > > "Dr. Burroughs was a pillar of strength and character > in our community," Jackson said in a statement. "Dr. > Margaret Burroughs radiated hope." > > Mrs. Burroughs bowled and took up roller-skating in her > 80s. > > In 1989, she was inducted into the Chicago Women's Hall > of Fame. President Jimmy Carter appointed her a member > of the National Commission on African-American History > and Culture. > > Mrs. Burroughs has won the Paul Robeson Award, named > for the black singer and actor known for his political > activism. Most recently, Mrs. Burroughs received the > Legacy Award from the Art Institute of Chicago. > > Mrs. Burroughs' grandson, Eric Toller, said she > "dedicated her life to serving the community, and she > ensured that all her grandchildren traveled abroad." > > She paid for Toller's trips to India, Pakistan and > Nepal when he was in grammar school and later took him > to Africa twice. > > "Her philosophy was that you always need to travel the > world," said Toller. > > Charles Burroughs died in 1994. > > Survivors also include a son, Paul Burroughs; and three > more grandchildren. > > Mrs. Burroughs did not want a funeral. A public > memorial service will be held, likely next year, Toller > said. > > _______________________________________________ > Marxism-Thaxis mailing list > Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu > To change your options or unsubscribe go to: > http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis > _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
