Romare Howard Bearden (abt. 1911 - 1988)

Born about 2 Sep 1911 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Nanette (Rohan) Bearden — married 1954 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

Died 12 Mar 1988 at about age 76 in New York, New York, United States

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Biography

Romare Bearden is Notable.

Romare Bearden is a Military Veteran.
Served in the U.S. Army, World War II

Romare Bearden was an artist, composer, and writer, best known for his work as a collagist. He was a founding member of the Harlem-based artists group known as Spiral, an alliance formed in the summer of 1963 in reaction to an exhibit at New York's Museum of Modern Art called Americans 1963, which included not a single black artist.^[1] Spiral came together to explore and promote the responsibility of the African-American artist in the struggle for civil rights, in politics, and in the arts, and was one of the first artist groups to call for the cultural community's involvement in social change.^[2]

The son of Richard Bearden and Bessye Banks, Romare was an only child, born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1911^[3][4] or 1912.^[5][6][7] His family moved to Harlem in northern Manhattan when he was about three years old during the Great Migration of Blacks from the American South. He attended school there,^[8] and spent summers with grandparents in Mecklenburg, North Carolina and in Pittsburg, where he also attended high school one year.^[4] In 1930 he was counted on the census as a 17-year-old, living with his parents in Manhattan.^[9] His parents were both university graduates, and his mother, a writer, especially was involved in education, politics and the arts. Their house "became a meeting place for major figures of the Harlem Renaissance."^[10]

He started his university education at Lincoln University near Oxford, Pennsylvania, studying mathematics and medicine.^[11] He finished college at New York University, graduating in 1935 with a degree in science and education.^[10] After graduation he studied at the Art Students League in New York City with George Grosz in 1936–37. As World War II approached,^[12] he continued living with his parents,^[13] and began working as a political cartoonist for several African-American weekly newspapers.^[10]

In 1942 "... Bearden was in the Army then; he served for three years with the 372nd Infantry, a Negro regiment, doing Stateside duty in a number of different posts before his discharge, in 1945, with the rank of sergeant...."^[14][6]

After the war, supported by the GI Bill, he traveled to Paris and studied art history and philosophy at the Sorbonne. He visited Picasso and other artists in Spain and Italy.^[15][16]

In 1954, at age 42, Bearden married Nanette Rohan, a dancer from Staten Island, New York.^[17][18] They had no children.

Around the time of his marriage he started working in New York as a caseworker for the New York City Department of Social Services, his day job from the 1950s until 1969.^[4][11]

He died in New York in 1988,^[19] and was cremated.^[20]

"Among the many awards he received during his life were honorary doctorates from Pratt Institute, Carnegie-Mellon University, Davidson College, and Atlanta University. "

Research Notes

Does anyone have access to the St. Michael’s And All Angels Episcopal Church in Charlotte? Would love to have a better citation for the baptism record.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ May Winiarski, Romare Bearden, Modernist: Relationship between Art, Race, Identity and Memory: Personal Stories Interpreted in Clay, (Charlotte Teachers Institute, 25 May 2012) citing Ruth Eileen Fine and Mary Lee Corlett, The Art of Romare Bearden (Washington: National Gallery of Art , 2003), p. 214.
2. ↑ Wikipedia, citing Abbe Schriber and Lauren Haynes, Spiral: Perspectives on an African-American Art Collective (New York: Cosmos Communications, 2011).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Ruth Eileen Fine and Mary Lee Corlett, The Art of Romare Bearden (Washington: National Gallery of Art , 2003), p. 5

   [From a snippet of page 5 in a book of the same name and publication date, presumed analysis of the evidence presented when applying for the Delayed Birth Certificate,"almost forty years later was based on an insurance record from 16 July 1927, an army enlistment certificate of 7 May 1942, and an affidavit from Bearden's father, the earliest of these dating from more than a decade later than the baptism."

4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Richard Carter, "The Art of Romare Bearden: A Resource for Teachers" (PDF). nga.gov., (2003). Contains many photos of his art.
5. ↑ "North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VHT2-XCT : 8 December, 2014), Romare Howard Bearden, 1912; from "North Carolina, Birth and Death Indexes, 1800-2000," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing vol. 9, p. 310, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8LV-8W2 : 5 December 2014), Romare H Bearden, enlisted 07 May 1942, New York City, New York, United States; citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.

   Birth Year: 1912

7. ↑ Ancestry.com, online database, "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007" for Romare Howard Bearden (issued 1957)Ancestry Record Numident #44352845 [Romare Howard Bearden (July 1957) aka Romare H Bearden (20 May 1988); Male, Black; Born 2 Sep 1912, Charlotte ME[cklenburg], North Carolina; Death Date: Mar 1988; Parents: Richard H Bearden and Bessye J Banksl; National ID xxx-xx-6136]
8. ↑ Ancestry.com, database with images, "New York, State Census, 1925" > New York > New York > A.D. 21 E.D. 27 > image 28 of 24 for Romare Bearden in the household of Richard and Bessie Bearden Ancestry Record 2704 #24302939 with attached Image; New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 27; Assembly District: 21; City: New York; County: New York; Page: 32 ($)
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4LQ-5PT : accessed 16 August 2020), Romare Bearden in household of Howard R Bearden, Manhattan (Districts 0751-1000), New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 926, sheet 2B, line 65, family 42, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1574; FHL microfilm 2,341,309.

   • Howard R Bearden Head Male 40 North Carolina
   • Bessie J Bearden Wife Female 36 North Carolina
   • Romare Bearden Son Male 17 North Carolina
   • Brandt Mcneil Lodger Male 65 Georgia
   • Blanch Mcneil Lodger Female 42 South Carolina
   • Myron Cockras Lodger Male 25 North Carolina

10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1 10.2} Wikipedia contributors, "Romare Bearden," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Romare_Bearden&oldid=964489332 (accessed August 16, 2020).
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Romare Bearden, interviewed by Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, for the television program Inside New York's Art World, 1979. RB Interview video
    • 3:25-4:02 Majored in mathematics and then went to medical school but quit in his third year.
    • 29:09-29:53 Worked for New York City's Department of Social Welfare for about 14 years in the 1950s and 1960s. He was working with immigrant gypsies [Romany]. Even during that time, he considered himself a full-time artist because even if he wasn't painting, he was thinking about painting.
12. ↑ Ancestry.com, database with images, "U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947" > New York (City) > Basta-Binstock > Bazanos, Peter-Beasley, Walter > image 1684-1685 of 2005 for Romare Howard Bearden, 16 October 1940 Ancestry Record 2238 #195035342 with attached Image; Draft Registration Cards for New York City, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947. 1376 boxes. NAI: 7644743. Records of the Selective Service System, 1926–1975, Record Group 147. National Archives and Records Administration, St Louis, Missouri. [Employer: Dept of Public Welfare; Next of Kin: Bessie J Bearden, mother.]
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQTX-D33 : 4 August 2020), Romare Beavdon in household of Howard Beavdon, Assembly District 11, Manhattan, New York City, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 31-913, sheet 17A, line 15, family 297, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2645.

    • Howard Beavdon Head Male 50 North Carolina
    • Bessye Beavdon Wife Female 46 North Carolina
    • Romare Bearden Son Male 26 North Carolina

14. ↑ "Profiles" series, New Yorker magazine (November 1977) p. 61.
15. ↑ Ruth Fine, et al., The Art of Romare Bearden - A Resource for Teachers, page 16, (Washington, D.C.:National Gallery of Art, 2003) (https://nga.gov : accessed 4 August 2020).
16. ↑ "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPZ-5M45 : 15 March 2018), Romare H Bearden, 1950; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). [Passport number 133752]
17. ↑ Wikipedia, citing Carter, Richard (2003). "The Art of Romare Bearden: A Resource for Teachers" (PDF). nga.gov.
18. ↑ Ancestry.com, online database, "New York, New York, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018," Romare Bearden and Nanette Rohan, License 20045, 1954, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA; New York City Municipal Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Manhattan, "Index to Marriages, New York City Clerk's Office, New York, New York."
19. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VSNP-1PX : 21 July 2020), H Bearden, Mar 1988; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
20. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 06 August 2020), memorial page for Romare Bearden (2 Sep 1911–12 Mar 1988), Find A Grave: Memorial #83624892; Maintained by Jane M. Howard (contributor 46805219) Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend.

See also:

• City Directories - to establish the time of move from North Carolina to New York. Some of the directories may be available at Archive.org:
  • Ancestry.com, database with image, "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995" (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469 : accessed 5 August 2020)
    • Charlotte, North Carolina:
      • 1912, Image 33, page 124 Bearden Richard H (Bessie) clk at H B Kennedy BDS 401 s Graham
      • 1913, Image 53, page 88 Beardon Robt H clk h 401 s Graham
      • 1915, Image 324, page 590 401 S Graham now occupied by Saml Maxwell
    • New York:
      • 1915, Image 165, page 294, col 3, Bearden Richd lab h332 W52nd
      • 1916, Image 161, page 238, col 2, Bearden Robt H waiter h19 W136th
      • 1917, Image 165, page 327, col 4, Bearden Howard porter r213 W 131st

• Record for Romare Howard Bearden; Application (SS-5) Files, 1936 - 2007 (Last Names A through B) in the Series: Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), created 1936 - 2007, documenting the period 1936 - 2007. - Record Group 47; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD [retrieved from the Access to Archival Databases at www.archives.gov, 5 August 2020].

• "Romare Bearden Biography," Romare Bearden Foundation (New York, New York, USA) (https://beardenfoundation.org : accessed 4 August 2020).

• Encyclopedia Brittanica Editors, "Romare Bearden, American Painter," This Day in History, March 11, (Encyclopedia Brittanica, Inc.) brittanica.com.

• "Romare Bearden's Southern Sensibility" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFXKqQ5sQFk

• "Trains, Snakes, and Guitars: The Collages of Romare Bearden" https://youtu.be/H-ISbp_vfuo

• National Art Gallery, "Past Exhibitions - The Art of Romare Bearden (September 14, 2003 – January 2004)" (https://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2003/bearden.html : accessed 4 August 2020)

• "Romare Bearden papers, 1937-1982", [ https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/romare-bearden-papers-5881/series-1/box-1-folder-1 Series 1: Biographical], Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 (https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/romare-bearden-papers-5881 : accessed 4 August 2020) [9 pgs of census, city directory, and land abstracts regarding the Kennedy and Bearden families; 1 pg with transcripts of two Kennedy obituaries; 1 pg with abstract of Death Certificate for Henry Kennedy; 3 pgs of probate records for Rich'd P Bearden, administration by Rosa C Bearden; 5 pgs regarding Romare's career.]

• Smithsonian Magazine and Paul Trachtman. “Romare Bearden: Man of Many Parts.” Smithsonian Magazine, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/romare-bearden-man-of-many-parts-105681968/. Accessed 8 Jan. 2024.

• Valentine, Victoria L. "Romare Bearden, Spiral Group and the March Toward Artistic Identity," Culture Type, Culture Type 2013-2018, http://www.culturetype.com/2013/08/28/romare-bearden-spriral-group-and-the-march-toward-artistic-identity/ (accessed 20 January 2018).

• Harvard Magazine and Robert G. O'Meally. "Romare Bearden: Brief life of a textured artist: 1911-1988." Harvard Magazine, January-February 2020, https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2019/12/romare-bearden/. Accessed on Monday, January 8, 2024.

• Richard Maschal. "Remembering Romare Bearden: The reporter who knew him best celebrates the famous artist". Charlotte Magazine, 25 August 2011. https://www.charlottemagazine.com/remembering-romare-bearden/ accessed on Monday, January 8, 2024.

• Wikidata: Item Q1291679