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MERIDIAN HOUSE INTERNATIONAL 1630 Crescent Place, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009 Telephone (202) 667-6800 FAX (202) 667-8980 Mr. Samuel D. Chilcote, Jr. President The Tobacco Institute 1875 I Street, NW Suite 800 Washington, DC 20006 Dear Mr. Chilcote: November 24, 1989 Office of the President Meridian House International (MHI) invites you to join us in sponsoring The World of Lois Mailou Jones, a retrospective exhibition celebrating the career of one of America's finest painters. The career of Lois Mailou Jones, probably the foremost American black woman painter, has spanned sixty years and many cultures. She has traveled and painted in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, expecially Haiti. Now in her eighties, her styles over the years have reflected her travels and her experiences. A~ a t~lented black woman who persistently pursued success, and galned it, she has been an inspiration to many younger artists. MHI will present this important exhibition in Washington, D.C. from January 28 through March 18, 1990 in honor of Black History Month. Under the direction of guest curator Tritobia Benjamin, Director of the Gallery of Art at Howard University, a color catalogue will be made available. In a}ditign, a variety of. complementary programs will address the hlstorlcal and personal issues of black women in the arts and expand our audience through educational outreach programs. We remember well your generous support for MHI in the past and hope that you will renew your participation in our work by supporting this important exhibition with a grant in the $i,000 range. The enclosed proposal describes the exhibition and complementary programs more fully. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Matthews at (202) 939-5558. Ti10620283

Mr. Daniel J. Callahan. III Chammm Hon. 'A:tdtcr L. Cutler Prcshlent Mr. Edmu~d B. Cranin. ~r. Maj. Gem Joh~ Michael Dunn Mrs. Bob L. Schieil~r l'k'e Chairman Mrs, Leonard L. Silverst¢in Vh e ('h~lirlllt~tl Mrs. Jolm M. Cai~t S¢ cretacv Mrs. Philip E. Coldwell 7)'¢'aMll'Cr Hen. Richard K. Fox. Jt~ Senh~r Vice Pre~4¢h,nt/ [.:.~ecttth'e Director fi~r ~"fsdlor Procmzm Service Mrs. Pat~tcia Ann Johnson Vice Presh#nt .fi~r Devehq~ment M~z William E. Muldoon ~'lce k'rexidcltt h~r PRESIDENT EMERITUS l 1,)a. Jt,.,,cph John Jw,,a TRUSTFES EMERITI Mrs. Hube.rt W. Chanter Hen. J. \%,'illiam Fulbright Mr. Wflli~,m I-. McSwec.n~ TRUSTEES Mr. Nornt.'n~ R. Augns!ine Mr. Richard D. Barrett lion, W Tnpley Benneli. Jr. Mr. BarD W. Blank MNs Elizabeth A. Bur/on Mrs. John Moors Ca~t Mr. Dnniel J. Calhdma, 11I Mr. John C. Camp Mtge, Philip E, Mr. Edmund B. Cronin, Jr. Maj. Gcn. John Michael Otlnll Dr Alllc C. Felder, Jr. Mrs. Robea 'E Foley Mr. George. K. Graebel Mrs. Richard M. Hen. i.tlther H. I4odges, Jr. M~. AntholW Hope Mr. %%,flliam J. Heron Mrs..hdin Howell Dr> Pauht Jewell Mrs..I. Bennett .I,.~hllMOn Mr. Arden B. Judd, Jr. Mr. Edward %V. Hen. l.red Ktarth Mr. Da'~id Lloyd Krecger Mr,;. Norri~ J. Krone, Jr. Mr. Kenneth J. Luchs Mr John J. Mason Mrs. Juliette Clage~t MeLennan Mrs. Sam A. Nunn l)r. Vincent Reed Hen. Juhn E. Reinhardt lion. S. DHlen Ripley Mrs. Iames S. Rosebush Mrs. Bob L. Schieffer Mr. Herbert K. Schmi~z Mrs. t.eonard L. Silverstein Mr- Albert H. Small Htm. David S. Smith Mr. Wubne I I. Smithcy Mrs. W~dter J. Sa~essel Mrs. William~on Sluckey. Jr. Mrs,. Daniel J. Te~a Mr. Ritchie T. Thomas Mr. W. Reid I'hml~p~on Hen. Abelardo L. Valdcz M )'. Johnathan Weaver Mrs. Pete Wilson MI'. J. lqillman Zakn Meridian Hoasc International i.,, a not-for-profit edl.lcalioaal and cultural cemer which exisla io promote international filKI intercultural unilcr~lantlhlg through the exchange of people, ideas and the mls. Through its service~ Itl inten~ational visilors and the prcselltadoll of lecture~, seminars and e~hibilions of an international du~acter, Meridian House serves as a doo~vay to the United Slates for thousands of inicniational vistmr:,, as well ~s a window on the world lbr Anledcan~ iilte~'sled in world affairs. Its afliliales ~ the Visitor Program Service (VPS). the Washington lnlernatioiml Center iWIC), lhc Nufional Council t~r lntermaional Visitot~ ~ NCI VL the lntematl~anal Visitors tnfi~rmation Service (IVIS). and The Hospilid- it) and tnfi~m~ation Service tor Diploma~ fTHISI. A tax-exempt corporation. Meiidlan House lntcrnalional is financed by governmenl contracts anti gralll>, i~)amlation ~tippOll, anti corpol~tle and indi- vidual gifl~. II own~ and t~perate~ a three mid a half acre intel~ulttllad campu~ wilh IWtl ht,u~es ~)f archilcciulal quality l~cognized by the DNirict of Colunlbni alld the National Register of Historic Plat'e~. T110620284

November 24, 1989 Page 2 I look forward to hearing from you together on this exciting project. With best wishes, WLC/gj f soon and hope that we can work Sincgrely, ~ Walter L. Cutler (U.S. Ambassador - Ret.) President T110620285

THE WORLD OF LOIS MAILOU JONES at Meridian House International January 28 - March 18, 1990 Meridian House International (MHI) is proud to introduce The World of Lois Mailou Jones, an exhibition covering the entire career of one of America's greatest painters, an 84 year old Black woman of Washington, D.C., as its celebration of Black History Month. The Artist: A watercolorist from the age of seven, who taught art at Howard University for 47 years, her work ranges from the delicacies of impressionism to the energetic styles she observed in Africa and Haiti. Her vivid renderings of the faces, lives and livelihoods of Black people throughout the world have earned her wide respect and her works are held in many private and museum collections internationally. This exhibition, comprised of fifty paintings embodying more than 60 years of work in Washington, D.C., Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, is a dynamic and moving walk through the life of Lois Jones and her time. Oriqin of the Exhibit: This exhibition was organized by MHI and curated by Tritobia Benjamin, Director of the Gallery of Art at Howard University. Location: In Washington, D.C. from January 28 through March 18, 1990 in the galleries of the White-Meyer House, an historic mansion on MHI's three acre international cultural center in the Nation's Capital. Ancillary proqrams: Lectures by Ms. Jones and Ms. Benjamin on the life and influence of Lois Jones and her contemporaries A panel seminar addressing the role of Black women in the arts with prominent scholars and artists Educational outreach programs for schools An opening reception, performances featuring Black musicians and dancers and docent-led tours of the exhibit Tourinq: MHI and the United States Information Agency possibility of touring the exhibition in presentation in Washington. are discussing the Africa after its Budqet: $60,000, including fees, catalogue, installation, publicity, opening reception and complementary programs. Contributors will be recognized in all promotional and program materials. T110620286

LOIS MAILOU JONES Biographic Information 1905 1923 1923-1927 1928 1928-1939 1930 1937 1945 1954 1955 1970 1983 1988 1988 born in Boston, November 3 graduated from High School of Practical Arts, study at Museum of Fine Arts School, Boston; Nathaniel Thayer Prize for Excellence in Design diploma from Designers Art School, Boston head of Art Department, Palmer Memorial Institute, Carolina joined staff of Howard University Boston received North General Education Board Fellowship for study at Academie Julian, Paris, followed by study in Italy AB degree, magna cum laude, Howard University guest professor at Centre d'Art, Haiti first black elected to Society of Washington Artists United States Information Service grant to lecture Africa film produced, "Lois Mailou Painting" travel to Japan for exhibition, in Japan" invited guest to artists in Jones: Fifty Years of "The Art of Black America conference in Brazil Exhibitions: fifty-five solo exhibitions from 1927-1988, including Hampton Institute, Centre d'Art (Haiti), Pan American Union, Galerie Soulanges (Paris), Cornell University, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Phillips Collection, and Musee d'Art Haitien. Over i00 group exhibitions including American Negro Exhibition (Chicago, 1940), the Baltimore Museum, Cooper Union, Corcoran Gallery of Art, the High Museum (Atlanta), Los Angeles County Museum, Museum of Modern Art, National Museum of Art, National Portrait Gallery, National Urban League, Palais des Congres (Paris), Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, The Rhodes National Gallery (Zimbabwe), Seattle Museum, Sogetsu Kaikan (Tokyo). Recoqnition: Ms. Jones' paintings are included in thirty-three permanent collections around the world. She has received numerous awards, prizes and fellowships throughout her long life, including Outstanding Achievement in Art by President Carter in 1980. Criticism: As Edmund B. Gaither, Curator, Museum of the National Center of Afro-American artists has written: "Lois Mailou Jones is one of the few figures in American art to achieve a long, exciting and inspiring career in which there is no room for defeat, dullness and trickery. Whether it is the Lois Jones of the early thirties -- the artist in Montmartre, the Lois Jones of the fifties and sixties watching 'Peasants on Parade, Haiti,' or the Lois Jones of today reflecting on 'Dahomey' or the 'Ubi Girl from Tai Region,' it is always the Lois Jones in full control of her design and her colors..." T110620287