Frances Euphemia Thompson
Item
Title
Frances Euphemia Thompson
Description
Frances Euphemia Thompson, class of 1923, built a 47-year career
teaching art to young Black women and men who would bring art
instruction to the segregated schools of rural Tennessee. Thompson
attended high school at Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State
Normal School (now Tennessee State University) where she met her
mentor, Olive Gorane Taliaferro, a Massachusetts Normal Art School
alumna, Class of 1915. Taliaferro would influence Thompson to attend
MNAS, and Thompson would earn her diploma and later, a bachelor’s
degree from Massachusetts School of Art. She received her Master of
Arts in Teaching from Radcliffe in 1945.
In 1943, the Tennessee Department of Education published her book
Art in the Elementary Schools: A Manual for Teachers, to help teachers
create art programs in segregated schools. She taught at TSU from 1923
to 1969. TSU’s seal was designed by Thompson, as were many of the
bas-reliefs decorating several of the school’s buildings. Thomson’s other
notable artwork includes drawings, oil paintings, and murals.
teaching art to young Black women and men who would bring art
instruction to the segregated schools of rural Tennessee. Thompson
attended high school at Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State
Normal School (now Tennessee State University) where she met her
mentor, Olive Gorane Taliaferro, a Massachusetts Normal Art School
alumna, Class of 1915. Taliaferro would influence Thompson to attend
MNAS, and Thompson would earn her diploma and later, a bachelor’s
degree from Massachusetts School of Art. She received her Master of
Arts in Teaching from Radcliffe in 1945.
In 1943, the Tennessee Department of Education published her book
Art in the Elementary Schools: A Manual for Teachers, to help teachers
create art programs in segregated schools. She taught at TSU from 1923
to 1969. TSU’s seal was designed by Thompson, as were many of the
bas-reliefs decorating several of the school’s buildings. Thomson’s other
notable artwork includes drawings, oil paintings, and murals.
