Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America

Kelley, Harmon print view role Collector dates 1945-2023 city San Antonio state TX sex M historical notes Inspired by David Driskell’s “Hidden Heritage: Afro-American Art, 1800-1950,” Dr. Harmon W. Kelley and his wife, Harriet, began collecting African American art in 1987. Ten years later, their collection, which focused on Black artists such Henry Osawa Tanner, Edward M. Bannister, James VanDerZee, Elizabeth Catlett, William and Joshua Johnson, Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden, Palmer Hayden and Charles Alston, became the first private collection of African American art ever exhibited by the Smithsonian. In 2016, the Houston Museum of African American Art displayed the “Harmon and Harriet Kelley Collection of African American Art: Works on Paper,” and, in 2018, 37 pieces of the Kelleys’ collection were prominently featured in “Something to Say: The McNay Presents 100 Years of African American Art.” decades of activity 1990-2000 2000-2010 1980-1990 updated 02/14/2025 10:12:28 bibliographic search Search Frick Art Reference Library Catalog Search Photoarchive Search Worldcat Archives/Repository Collection Title Collection Details No known archives at the time of publication n/a see details... see also: Kelly, Harriet Tibbs, Thurlow Evans, Jr. Driskell, David «  back