3

Ellen S. Collison
[3-line address redacted]
January 20, 1987

Professor David Driskell
4207 Decatur Street
Hyattsville, MD

Dear Professor Driskell:

I am a Master's candidate in art history at George Washington
University, and am currently researching the work of John N.
Robinson for my thesis. Lynda Hartigan, Tritobia Benjamin, and
Starmanda Bullock all suggested that I contact you in order to
gain further understanding of the black art community in the
District from the 1930's until the present.

Although Mr. Robinson has had some association with artists
such as Alma Thomas, Lois Jones, and James Porter, he has pursued
his career in relative isolation. In the last fifteen years he
has not had much contact with other artists. This presents me
with a dilemma as he has absented himself from the art "scene",
while continuing to produce works which are highly evocative of
contemporary life in the District from the 1940's through the
late 1970's. (I have chosen to investigatehis portraiture, and in
doing so have encountered numerous genre scenes of black family
life over the course of three generations.)

I was familiar with ost of the good scholarly literature on
Afro-American art, including your work, but feel that it would
be very helpful if I could meet with you and discuss some of the
basics pertaining to the visual arts in the District (and nationally),
especially the contributions of Afro Americans.

It is easiest to reach me at home by phone or letter. My num-
ber is (703) 476-4035, and I am usually in on most evenings.