Tribotia Benjamin, an accomplished art historian whose research focused on the works of African American women, died late last month after a long illness. She was 69 years old.
Dr. Benjamin served for 44 years on the faculty at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She was hired in 1970 as an instructor and was promoted to full professor in 1993. She also served as associate dean of the Division of Fine Arts and director of the Howard University Gallery of Art. Professor Benjamin was the author of The Life and Art of Lois Mailou Jones (Pomegranate, 1994).
A native of Brinkley, Arkansas, Professor Benjamin earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art history at Howard University. She earned a Ph.D. in art history at the University of Maryland, College Park.
I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of my friend and former colleague. We shared many moments of academic commiseration and triumphs over our years in the old College of Fine Arts, later to be known as the Division of Fine Arts. She had a profound respect for all arts and always supported me and my colleagues in the Department of Theatre Arts.
I wonder why Howard took 23 YEARS to appoint her full professor. There is something unsettling about that.
Just learning of Professor Toby Benjjamin’s death. She was an excellent teacher and I most enjoyed her classes while working on my Master’s in Art History at Howard. My condolences.
Dr. Benjamin (Toby), was my professor of Art History at HU. She was an excellent teacher and I looked forward to learning from her. I worked with her to design and refine several gallery brochures. May she rest in peace.