“In observance of the fiftieth anniversary of the Passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Kinsey exhibition poised to dispel myths and encourage dialogue around African Americans in the making of America”
Houston, TX July 15 2014- As the nation observes the fiftieth anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) and the Houston Museum of African American Culture readies the opening of, African American Treasures from The Kinsey Collection, on August 2, 2014.
The Kinsey Collection is a nationally acclaimed exhibition seen by over three million people and includes artifacts and works of art demonstrating the artistic, historic, and cultural contributions and progress of African Americans. The exhibition features documents, artifacts, and photographs dating from the 1500s to the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Jim Crow years, and the Civil Rights Movement.
The exhibition at the Houston Museum of African American Culture, on display through October 26 2014, includes seldom displayed artifacts, including:
- an early edition of Solomon Northrup’s 12 Years a Slave, the basis of the Academy Award-winning film;
- W.E.B Dubois 1st edition copy of his ground breaking book Souls of Black Folks;
- a baptismal record dating back to 1595, and marital record from 1598 – the earliest known documentation of African-American presence in America.
Works from Houston’s own, John Biggers and Lionel Lofton, are also featured.
Through these objects, The Kinsey Collection seeks to dispel myths and promote dialogue about the role of African Americans in the making of America. Wells Fargo and the Houston Museum of African American Culture invite visitors to contemplate the items displayed and to reflect on the progress that African Americans have made in civil rights and social justice, as well as consider the work remaining to achieve equality.
The role of African Americans in the art and culture of early America was far richer than commonly thought – a contribution that has endured and flourished. At the same time, the end of slavery with the Civil War did not end the exploitation, violence, and neglect of the previously enslaved and their descendants. Only through strength and commitment to social justice did African Americans secure their civil and human rights as a result of the Civil Rights Movement and passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Bernard Kinsey, avid collector, philanthropist, and educator, began this collection over 35 years ago with his wife, Shirley, and son, Khalil. Bernard was inspired to begin his collection after viewing an original bill of sale of William Johnson sold for $550 in 1832.
“You cannot begin to understand The Civil War, without first understanding slavery. You cannot fully appreciate the Civil Rights Movement without understanding Jim Crow. ” says Bernard Kinsey. “The Kinsey Collection serves to facilitate the joining of these historical moments to create a more comprehensive view of the historical account of America.”
The exhibition’s combination of original documents, rare books, paintings and other works of art, early photographs and modern sculptures creates a unique and diverse experience, bringing history to life through art and artifacts. As visitors walk through the exhibition, they are fully immersed in a story of struggle for freedom, equality, and expression in American history – leaving the experience both educated and inspired.
“By presenting this exhibition, lectures, programs, and the community events that highlight the stories in the exhibition, Wells Fargo and the Houston Museum of African American Culture hope to establish that we are all connected by a common history and that our shared history cannot be segregated,” says John Guess, Jr., CEO of the Houston Museum of African American Culture. “Houston residents and visitors can realize that the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement – no matter their race or background – are inextricably linked and central to the lives of all people in the history of our nation.”
The Kinsey Collection has been seen at the Smithsonian Institution and 14 other venues, but never before in Houston. As part of Wells Fargo’s 2013 celebratory tour honoring the 150th anniversary of The Emancipation Proclamation, it traveled to leading African American museums including the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco, the Harvey B. Gantt Center in Charlotte, and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore. Wells Fargo and the Kinsey family have extended the tour through 2014, moving it first to the Atlanta History Center before coming to Houston.
“The appreciation of culture, diversity, and human rights is at the heart of our vision and values,” says Cary Yates, market growth and development manager, Wells Fargo in Houston “Extending this national tour provides Wells Fargo with the opportunity to encourage conversations about the value of diversity and inclusion while allowing us to recommit to the fundamental principles of equality that inspire and drive us all.”
Wells Fargo also launched the Untold Stories: Our Inspired History campaign. The campaign features a three-part short film series narrated by celebrity influencers, Jordin Sparks, Lauren London, and Lance Gross, taking viewers through specific points in history highlighting artifacts from The Kinsey Collection. The campaign also extends into the social media space with multiple video vignettes featuring prominent lifestyle bloggers sharing their personal stories. For more information or details on the Untold Stories: Our Inspired History campaign, please visit www.wellsfargo.com/kinseycollection.
COMPLEMENTARY PROGRAMS
For information about any of these programs call 713-526-1015 or visit www.hmaac.org.
OPENING DAY PROGRAM
Opening Day Celebration: The Kinsey Collection: African American Treasures from the Kinsey Collection – Saturday, August 2, 2014, 6:30 pm
Join the Houston Museum of African American Culture for the opening day of the Wells Fargo presented African American Treasures from the Kinsey. Be among the first to view the exhibition on display at the Houston Museum of African American Culture.
An Afternoon of Art and Legacy – Sunday, August 3, 2014, 2:00 pm.-4:00 pm
Featuring a talk with collectors Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, a Q&A session moderated by Lisa Frison, African American Segment Manager, Wells Fargo, followed by a book signing with the Kinsey family.
LOCAL AND FAMILY PROGRAMS
Children’s Saturdays of Discovery
Every Saturday at 2:00 pm, HMAAC will present programming related to topics raised by the Kinsey Collection for elementary and middle school visitors. For more information visit www.hmaac.org.
Seniors Stories
The second Sunday in August, September and October will feature interviews with select Houston seniors about their experiences growing up during a time of extensive social change. For more information visit www.hmaac.org.
Meet the Past: Films Inspired by The Kinsey Collection
Weekends August 9 – October 25, 2014 The Houston Museum of African American Culture invites you to Meet the Pastas history comes to life through a few influential films about African American life inspired by The Kinsey Collection.For more information visit www.hmaac.org.
The Americana Essay Contest
Submissions are due on August 31, 2014. Every day millions of Americans carry with them their own Kinsey Collection through stories of their families contributions to the making of America. HMAAC wants to hear them! The Essay Contest invites a national audience to write about the bold and beautiful people who helped shape America’s racial history in brave and perhaps small ways. The winning essay selected by a panel of national judges will be posted on HMAAC’s blog, Global Griot. For more information visit www.hmaac.org.
The Young Collector Workshop
Saturday, September 27, 2014. A workshop led by young collector Khalil Kinsey to introduce young professionals to the thrilling world of art collecting and its relationship to chronicling a people’s history. For more information visitwww.hmaac.org.
PARKING
Onsite parking is available and free to public.
ABOUT WELLS FARGO:
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.6 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 locations, 12,500 ATMs, and the internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 29 on Fortune’s 2014 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives and stories are also available at blogs.wellsfargo.com and at stories.wellsfargobank.com.
ABOUT THE KINSEY COLLECTION:
The Kinsey Collection strives to Educate, Motivate & Inspire Americans to learn more about the remarkable contributions of African Americans in building America. The Kinsey Collection has been featured on CBS SundayMorning and scores of television/radio shows and newspapers/magazines nationally. It has been cited in three national awards including the nation’s highest honor, The President’s Medal for Museum and Library Services, and was selected as one of the “Top Ten exhibits to see in the world”. With their son Khalil, the Kinsey’s have developed a 198-page coffee table book that has been adopted by the State of Florida to teach African American history, and a companion lecture series titled “What You Didn’t Learn in High School History”. The Kinsey Collection exhibition has been on display in eight museums including the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, with an iteration of the collection showing at EPCOT Center, Walt Disney World Resort through 2015.
ABOUT THE HOUSTON MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE:
The mission of HMAAC is to collect, conserve, explore, interpret, and exhibit the material and intellectual culture of Africans and African Americans in Houston, the state of Texas, the southwest and the African Diaspora for current and future generations. In fulfilling its mission, HMAAC seeks to invite and engage visitors of every race and background and to inspire children of all ages through discovery-driven learning. HMAAC is to be a museum for all people. While our focus is the African American experience, our story informs and includes not only people of color, but people of all colors.