Dr. Constance E. Clayton

From early on in Clayton’s life she was surrounded by family and friends who were artists and collectors. Her aunt created still lifes that hung in her home; her childhood friend, Rae Alexander Minter’s home was filled with the artwork of Minter’s great-uncle, Henry Ossawa Tanner. These experiences helped develop her love of art, and ignited her desire to collect works by African American artists. Clayton’s mother, Willabell Harris Clayton, also nurtured her interest in art with frequent visits to Philadelphia’s local art museums. Dr. Clayton went on to gather together rare and renowned nineteenth century artists such as Edward Mitchell Bannister, notable Harlem Renaissance artists Laura Wheeler Waring, Lois Mailou Jones, James Van Der Zee, Ellen Powell Tiberino, and Philadelphia printmaking innovator Dox Thrash.