The
William E. Harmon Foundation Award for Distinguished Achievement Among Negroes, commonly referred to as the "Harmon award" or "Harmon Foundation award", was a philanthropic and cultural award created in 1926 by
William E. Harmon[1] and administered by the
Harmon Foundation. It was offered for distinguished achievements in eight different fields: literature, music, fine arts, business and industry, science and innovation, education, religious service, and race relations. Although awards were created in eight categories, it is best known for its recognition of
African-American art of the
Harlem Renaissance, and particularly of the visual arts.[2]
The medal is of unusually beautiful design. On the obverse side is embossed a ship in full sail on the open sea with the inscription "Harmon Foundation" around the margin. On the reverse side are the words "Inspiration, Achievement Religious Service. Second award, 1926, John Hurst".[3]
A full list of the winners of each year was offered in contemporary New York Times articles.[4][5][6][7][8]
James C. Evans, First award and Gold medal. Awarded for research in electrical engineering,[14] for "two theses in regenerative circuits in radio, submitted for the bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering."[15]
W. A. Daniel, Second award and Bronze medal for his social study on "The Education of Negro Ministers."[16]
William Edouard Scott, Gold medal. Though Work and Guzman scrupulously document the cash awards received, no mention of a cash award is made for Scott. His was a "special award of a gold medal", falling outside of the normal scope for the award: "... because of the finished and excellent character of his paintings and the recognition already received. Mr. Scott was considered by the judges to be outside the purpose of the awards but deserving of distinction."[19]
Benjamin Brawley, Second award and Bronze medal. Brawley declined the award:[22] "... a well-known educator and writer, Brawley declined the second-place award because, he said, he had never done anything but first-class work."[23]
Reverend
William N. DeBerry, First award and Gold medal for "distinguished service in religion and social welfare among Negroes of the United States".[24][25]
James A. Parsons, First award and Gold medal for advances made with rust-resistant or non-corrosive metals:[26] "James Parsons, Jr., a metallurgist, winner of the Harmon Award in Science [in] 1927.. for many years been in charge of research and production for the
Duriron Company of Dayton, Ohio. He ... holds many patents in a highly competitive field and has opened new avenues for our men"[27]
No Second award
Music
R. Nathaniel Dett, First award and Gold medal for vocal and instrumental compositions.[20]
Clarence C. White, First award and Gold medal for his work as a violinist and composer.[20]
E. H. Margetson, Second award and Bronze medal for his work in composing orchestrations for symphonies for both instruments and voices.[20][28]
Thomas Monroe Campbell First award and Gold medal, "the first Harmon Award ever presented for distinguished achievement in the field of farming and rural life."[36]
Notes
^Winners, categories and awards for this year compiled from The New York Times (December 8, 1926).[5]
^Winners, categories and awards for this year compiled from The New York Times (January 9, 1928).[6]
^Winners, categories and awards for this year compiled from The New York Times (February 13, 1929).[7]
^Winners, categories and awards for this year compiled from The New York Times (January 6, 1930).[4]
^Winners, categories and awards for this year compiled from The New York Times (January 26, 1931).[8]
References
Armstrong, Samuel Chapman. (1931). The Southern workman, Volume 60.
Barksdale, Richard Kenneth (1992). Praisesong of survival: lectures and essays, 1957-89. University of Illinois Press.
ISBN0-252-06286-8ISBN978-0252062865
Brawley, Benjamin Griffith (1966) The Negro genius: a new appraisal of the achievement of the American Negro in Literature and the Fine Arts. Biblo-Moser.
ISBN0-8196-0184-5ISBN978-0819601841
Calo, Mary Ann. (2007). Distinction and Denial: Race, Nation, and the Critical Construction of the African American Artist, 1920-40. University of Michigan Press.
ISBN0-472-03230-5ISBN978-0472032303
Dykeman, Wilma (1976). Seeds Of Southern Change: The Life Of Will Alexander. W. W. Norton and Company, Inc.ISBN0-393-00813-4ISBN978-0393008135
Guzman, Jessie Parkhurst & Jones, Lewis W. (Eds.) (1952). Negro Year Book: A Review of Events Affecting Negro Life. WM. H. Wise & Co., Inc.
"Harmon Award Presented" (Feb 19, 1930). New York Times, pg. 19.
"Holsey shares Harmon Award with employees of New York office". Afro-American, Saturday February 21, 1931, p. 1.
Johnson, Charles Spurgeon & Carter, Elmer Anderson (1969). Opportunity: Journal of Negro life, (1969) Volumes 5-6. p. 20.
Jones, Allen W. (1979). Thomas M. Campbell: Black Agricultural Leader of the New South. Agricultural History Vol. 53, No. 1, Southern Agriculture Since the Civil War: A Symposium, pp. 42–59.
Leininger-Miller, Theresa (2001). New Negro Artists in Paris: African American Painters and Sculptors in the City of Light, 1922–1934, Rutgers University Press.
ISBN0-8135-2811-9ISBN978-0813528113.
Lewis, Samella (2003). African American Art and Artists. University of California Press.
ISBN0520239350
Otfinoski, Steven (2011) African Americans in the Visual Arts. New York: Facts on File.
ISBN0816078408* Wintz, Cary D. & Finkelman, Paul. (2004). Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance. Volume 1. Routledge
ISBN1-57958-389-XISBN978-1579583897
Wintz, Cary D. & Finkelman, Paul. (2004). Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance. Volume 2. Taylor & Francis Group.
ISBN0-203-31930-3
Woodson, C. G. (1950). Harry Thacker Burleigh. The Journal of Negro History, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 104–105
Work, Monroe Nathan & Guzman, Jessie Parkhurst (1937). Negro year book: an annual encyclopedia of the Negro 1937-1938. Tuskegee Institute, Ala.: Negro Year Book Publishing Co.
^
ab"Two to be honored for aid to Negroes: Rosenwald and Dr. Dillard to Get Harmon Awards on Racial Relations." (January 23, 1928). New York Times, p. 25.
The
William E. Harmon Foundation Award for Distinguished Achievement Among Negroes, commonly referred to as the "Harmon award" or "Harmon Foundation award", was a philanthropic and cultural award created in 1926 by
William E. Harmon[1] and administered by the
Harmon Foundation. It was offered for distinguished achievements in eight different fields: literature, music, fine arts, business and industry, science and innovation, education, religious service, and race relations. Although awards were created in eight categories, it is best known for its recognition of
African-American art of the
Harlem Renaissance, and particularly of the visual arts.[2]
The medal is of unusually beautiful design. On the obverse side is embossed a ship in full sail on the open sea with the inscription "Harmon Foundation" around the margin. On the reverse side are the words "Inspiration, Achievement Religious Service. Second award, 1926, John Hurst".[3]
A full list of the winners of each year was offered in contemporary New York Times articles.[4][5][6][7][8]
James C. Evans, First award and Gold medal. Awarded for research in electrical engineering,[14] for "two theses in regenerative circuits in radio, submitted for the bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering."[15]
W. A. Daniel, Second award and Bronze medal for his social study on "The Education of Negro Ministers."[16]
William Edouard Scott, Gold medal. Though Work and Guzman scrupulously document the cash awards received, no mention of a cash award is made for Scott. His was a "special award of a gold medal", falling outside of the normal scope for the award: "... because of the finished and excellent character of his paintings and the recognition already received. Mr. Scott was considered by the judges to be outside the purpose of the awards but deserving of distinction."[19]
Benjamin Brawley, Second award and Bronze medal. Brawley declined the award:[22] "... a well-known educator and writer, Brawley declined the second-place award because, he said, he had never done anything but first-class work."[23]
Reverend
William N. DeBerry, First award and Gold medal for "distinguished service in religion and social welfare among Negroes of the United States".[24][25]
James A. Parsons, First award and Gold medal for advances made with rust-resistant or non-corrosive metals:[26] "James Parsons, Jr., a metallurgist, winner of the Harmon Award in Science [in] 1927.. for many years been in charge of research and production for the
Duriron Company of Dayton, Ohio. He ... holds many patents in a highly competitive field and has opened new avenues for our men"[27]
No Second award
Music
R. Nathaniel Dett, First award and Gold medal for vocal and instrumental compositions.[20]
Clarence C. White, First award and Gold medal for his work as a violinist and composer.[20]
E. H. Margetson, Second award and Bronze medal for his work in composing orchestrations for symphonies for both instruments and voices.[20][28]
Thomas Monroe Campbell First award and Gold medal, "the first Harmon Award ever presented for distinguished achievement in the field of farming and rural life."[36]
Notes
^Winners, categories and awards for this year compiled from The New York Times (December 8, 1926).[5]
^Winners, categories and awards for this year compiled from The New York Times (January 9, 1928).[6]
^Winners, categories and awards for this year compiled from The New York Times (February 13, 1929).[7]
^Winners, categories and awards for this year compiled from The New York Times (January 6, 1930).[4]
^Winners, categories and awards for this year compiled from The New York Times (January 26, 1931).[8]
References
Armstrong, Samuel Chapman. (1931). The Southern workman, Volume 60.
Barksdale, Richard Kenneth (1992). Praisesong of survival: lectures and essays, 1957-89. University of Illinois Press.
ISBN0-252-06286-8ISBN978-0252062865
Brawley, Benjamin Griffith (1966) The Negro genius: a new appraisal of the achievement of the American Negro in Literature and the Fine Arts. Biblo-Moser.
ISBN0-8196-0184-5ISBN978-0819601841
Calo, Mary Ann. (2007). Distinction and Denial: Race, Nation, and the Critical Construction of the African American Artist, 1920-40. University of Michigan Press.
ISBN0-472-03230-5ISBN978-0472032303
Dykeman, Wilma (1976). Seeds Of Southern Change: The Life Of Will Alexander. W. W. Norton and Company, Inc.ISBN0-393-00813-4ISBN978-0393008135
Guzman, Jessie Parkhurst & Jones, Lewis W. (Eds.) (1952). Negro Year Book: A Review of Events Affecting Negro Life. WM. H. Wise & Co., Inc.
"Harmon Award Presented" (Feb 19, 1930). New York Times, pg. 19.
"Holsey shares Harmon Award with employees of New York office". Afro-American, Saturday February 21, 1931, p. 1.
Johnson, Charles Spurgeon & Carter, Elmer Anderson (1969). Opportunity: Journal of Negro life, (1969) Volumes 5-6. p. 20.
Jones, Allen W. (1979). Thomas M. Campbell: Black Agricultural Leader of the New South. Agricultural History Vol. 53, No. 1, Southern Agriculture Since the Civil War: A Symposium, pp. 42–59.
Leininger-Miller, Theresa (2001). New Negro Artists in Paris: African American Painters and Sculptors in the City of Light, 1922–1934, Rutgers University Press.
ISBN0-8135-2811-9ISBN978-0813528113.
Lewis, Samella (2003). African American Art and Artists. University of California Press.
ISBN0520239350
Otfinoski, Steven (2011) African Americans in the Visual Arts. New York: Facts on File.
ISBN0816078408* Wintz, Cary D. & Finkelman, Paul. (2004). Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance. Volume 1. Routledge
ISBN1-57958-389-XISBN978-1579583897
Wintz, Cary D. & Finkelman, Paul. (2004). Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance. Volume 2. Taylor & Francis Group.
ISBN0-203-31930-3
Woodson, C. G. (1950). Harry Thacker Burleigh. The Journal of Negro History, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 104–105
Work, Monroe Nathan & Guzman, Jessie Parkhurst (1937). Negro year book: an annual encyclopedia of the Negro 1937-1938. Tuskegee Institute, Ala.: Negro Year Book Publishing Co.
^
ab"Two to be honored for aid to Negroes: Rosenwald and Dr. Dillard to Get Harmon Awards on Racial Relations." (January 23, 1928). New York Times, p. 25.