Elma Lewis
Encyclopedia
Elma Idna Lewis was the founder of the National Center of Afro-American Artists
(including a museum) and the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts. She received the MacArther Fellows Grant
in 1981. She was also given a Presidential Medal for the Arts
by President Ronald Reagan
in 1983. She is also an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
sorority.
National Center of Afro-American Artists
The National Center of Afro-American Artists is an institution founded in 1968 by Elma Lewis to "preserv[e] and foster[] the cultural arts heritage of black peoples worldwide through arts teaching, and the presentation of professional works in all fine arts disciplines." Although the...
(including a museum) and the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts. She received the MacArther Fellows Grant
MacArthur Fellows Program
The MacArthur Fellows Program or MacArthur Fellowship is an award given by the John D. and Catherine T...
in 1981. She was also given a Presidential Medal for the Arts
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in 1983. She is also an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
sorority.
External links
- Biography at the National Center of Afro-American Artists
- Elma Lewis' oral history video excerpts at The National Visionary Leadership Project
- New York Times Obituary
- Boston Globe Obituary
- The Elma Ina Lewis papers, 1917-1998 are located in the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Department, Boston, MA.
- The Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts records, 1954-1992 are located in the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Department, Boston, MA.
- The National Center of Afro–American Artists records 1924–1998 are located in the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Department, Boston, MA.
- The Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists records, 1966-1998 are located in the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Department, Boston, MA.
- The John Ross papers, 1963-2006 are located in the Northeastern University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections Department, Boston, MA.