Internationally renowned scholar and activist Ronald W. Walters served as a professor in Howard University’s department of political science for 25 years and as department chair for nearly a decade. In honor of Walters’ legacy, his wife, Patricia Turner Walters, is gifting Howard University with her collection of African American art, valued at $2,519,950.
The gift of art includes 152 pieces of African American art of various forms. The collection includes original pieces, sculptures, rare prints, photographs and pieces from notable eras, including the Harlem Renaissance.
“It is an incredible honor to receive this generous gift of precious art from the Walters family,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “This collection of sculptures and portraits and paintings will be an excellent complement to our gallery and a beneficial focus of training in our art history courses.”
The university will establish the Ronald W. Walters Endowed Chair for Race and Black Politics to continue Walters’ legacy of expanding the university’s capacity as a leader in emerging scholarship in Black politics. The chair will be housed in the Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center at Howard University. It is intended to spur interdisciplinary collaborations across the university on critical issues of race and Black politics, especially those issues that affect Americans of the African diaspora.
“Dr. Walters was a giant among scholars here at Howard University, nationally and internationally, and this endowed chair is designed to be a reflection of his unique history as an activist, a political strategist, and a trailblazing academic professor. This gift comes at the perfect moment to expand our students’ involvement in the political conversations of our time,” said President Frederick.
Dr. Walters died in 2010. He was an editorial contributor to the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education.
