Document text
septamber 15tb,1939
William A.CoopAtr, *eve Artist.
CharlettelY.C.
Cora L.Bennett, Writer.
Dudley W.Crawford, Reviser
AsuumiscamtatiL,
william A.Coopar, artist and preacher 6ives the
story of his life as follows:
"My work hfls been my life. 4hatever degree or
succi.s have had has come about, I believe, as a result
of my dogged determination $o do something tangible for
my race.
sr was born in the country near Hillsboro,N..
a small boy I worked on the farm. I worked in the
tobacco fields, worming Rtnd steaming tobacco as wall
as in the cotton fields. For about four months in the
winter I attended a Uission school in Hillebore for
negros. In summon* Um* I worked as a Janitor and some
Limos as a cook or house boy.
"My father was an ordinary field hand who loved
to train possum dogs. 14 mother had a grammar school
education and it the as of fourtsan taueht other boys
and girls how to read and writ*.
"When I as about f.,urteen I began to suppolt
myself, and soon there after went to the Industrial
Institut* at Eigh Point, N.C. as a work student. I
worked on the school farm,got up at five o'clock in
the morning to milk the cows, plow and hoe cotton and
Corn, ad anything else that needed to be done. while
I we at this school I also took up brick laying along
with my other studies.
"Prom High High Point I went to the National Religious
Training School at Durham, N.C. There I took the four
year Theological Course. Still working my way through
school, I received the Bachelor of Theology Degree
from that institution.
"As soon as I had finished I went to Ailaon,N.C.
where I started out as an insurance man, and at the
same time preaching at a small church on ounday.
"I went from there to Burlington, N.C. where I
was elected Principal of a high school. I also served
as Principal of the high school at Oraham, N.C. and
taught at various other places. All this time I was
studying law at nirght and passed the State Bar examination
in 1922.
I became interested in art foil the first time
a few years before this. I wets in bed with a rime cold
and while "lying idle 1 thought I would try to4two pictures
illustrating the Riblical quotation: 'wide is the gate
and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, but
straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth
unto lifetiand few there be who find it.' The members of
my church were quit* pleased with the pictures. Their
pleasure encouraed me a treat deal, and from that time
on I began to paint other things. It was then I started
painting the members of my race, anybody I could get
.3.
to sit-- field hands, teachers, children, cooki or
washerwomen. I had taken no formal lessons at the
time but I kept right on trying to see what I might
do.
I have attempted to show the real negro through
art. I believe that unless we have some record of the
negro that is neither burlesqued with black face nor
idealised with senmentality, the younger generation of
negroes will be deprived of inspiration from their own
race.
I remember when I was painting a portrait or a
little girl which I called, Inammes Darling', the child
of dark complexion posed contentedly until the day of
her final setting. I allowed her to come around and look
at the canvas. She she saw it she said,'Oh, you're
putting black on me'. She was angry and from that time on
we were no longer friends. I like to relate this incident
to show what the average negro child's attitude is along
this line. The child was not responsible for her attitude.
She thought of good in terms of other hues than black.
Uhe had been taught that blackness was mean kind low.
"I decided then that the negro needed to be deg
flirted in his own oyes and decided I might be able to
help with this greet need. There are so many phases or
moods of negro life to show, I reelised that even now
I have Just begun the task.
4$1,4•P
*In 1931 my pcinting, 'The Vanishing Washerwoman'
won honorable mention from the Judges at the Negro
Art Exhibitionoponsorod in New York by the Harmon Foundation
I had a portrait of a girlOAKolla' at the North Carolina
State Fair in 1934 which took first prise. My painting
'Little Prothorl must have been good as it was used as a
cover page for the Methodist Church's elementary magazine.
For the past two years I won the first prise at the Charlotte
Museum of Arts. I also was given the sole right to represent
this NUseum and the State of Korth Carolina at the National
axhibition of American Painters in New York City.
"In recent years I was privileged to study under
Ur. Clamant Itrudwick„ of Hillsboro, b. my horns town.
also studied under Yr. George Fallott, of TryongN.C.
who is now dead, but who spent some time teaching and
studying in Faris. also had the criticism of Mr.
Winford Conrow.
"I have bsen scheduled to teach art at the
Charlotte Museum and also to conduct lectures for the
benefit of the negro public. I taught a course at the
general Church School Convention of the A.U.F..zion Church
at Cinsinnatti Ohio last year.
"I have had the opportunity of studying in the
Art 3alleries of New York City, Chicago,Pittsburg, and
4ashington on various occasions's* well as in our own
Museum at Charlotte.
.5.
I have sold a nuMber of my paintings. I have
one at Hampton Institute, Hampton, Val ono at illisoboth
City Teacher's, College, Slisaboth City, N.C. one at
Shaw University; Porettoville 3tato Normal,Barbar..3cotis
at Concord, N.C. and ilinston-Ulom Teacher's College.
I have sold paintings to Vr. Nicholas, of 3outhorn Pines,
for his private collection; Mr. R.A.Uunn, of Charlottelend
Mr. Troy, of Ailtiuore. Palmer Memorial Institut' pur-
chased one of my paintings and I clive done four paintiniss
for the Xorth Carolina Uutuel Life Insurance Co., at
Durham, N.C.
I an now working under the division of Co-opers
tion of tducotion, representing Duke University, The Univer-
sit), of North Carolina end the North Carolina State
:Apartment of public Instruction. Under this organisation
we have already placed on the market,'A Portrait of Negro
Life,(1936) which had a wide and successful sal, through
colleges, libraries and book stores. le are now working on
text book of the high school level known as 'Builders
of a Race, rortraits and Life Sketches'. This book will
include one hundred outstanding negroes, representiru
various occupational groups, such as farmers, teachers,
doctors, business mon etc. '8ny of the portraits are al-
ready completed.
"I an particularly fond of my paintingl0The Vanishing
Washerwoman', in which I tried to catch and porserve some
of the history of negro motherhood for the benefit of the
future generation. 44 Dad' is also favorite for very
obvious reasons. 'Little 4rothert,eAkellao, and 'Louise'
are likewise paintings of which I am very proud.
limy work with art has not kept me from carrying
out my duties as e minister of the flospel.Those religious'
principals were first given ma by my parents abd still
live within me. I pestered the Clinton Chapel AX.S.Zion
Church of Charlotte,four years and am now serving as
I -residing :ilder of the North Carolina Dietrict. I was
honored with a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Livingstone
College in 034.
"I am also a member of the North Caroline Inter...
racial Commission and do my best to bring about a more
friendly feeling and batter understanding between the
races. I was privileged to make a goodwill tour through
North Carolina and Virginia with the Hampton xusrtet
visiting high schools and colleges, both negro and white.
I also visited about eight saLser school for negro teachers,
showing my paintings and m king lectures on the 'Value of
in Human Living'.
Cooper has no children, and lives with his wife Just
outside the City of Charlotte. He is a tall dark man forty
four years of age, and in apparentXy good health. His genial
disposition and genuine interest in the welfare of his race
.7.
and the success of his work endows him with a magnetic
personality. He is popular among the cultured and
artistic people of both races.