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A gift to the Hampton University Museum helps support the arts, history and education. Your contribution helps to fund changing exhibitions, special programs, national juried art shows, lectures, staffing needs, support for school buses, camps and special initiatives. The Museum offers three ways for you to give your support:
With more than 9500 objects (art and artifacts) including an unparalleled African American fine arts collection, the Hampton University Museum is nationally acclaimed. Founded in 1868, it is the nation’s oldest African American museum and one of the two oldest in Virginia. Its holdings represent the first assemblage of African art collected by an African American, and it is the first institution to establish a collection of African American artists. Since relocating to the historic Huntington Building in 1997, the Museum has more gallery space and is also the home of the University Archives. It features two floors of spacious exhibition galleries, an educational classroom, a teacher’s resource center, and a comfortable reading room in the University Archives.
The Museum also has an expanded Museum Store that sells publications, posters from select pieces and hand crafted items from America, Africa, South America and the Caribbean. Your membership will help to reach and teach America’s future generations and will help maintain this legacy.
Your gift helps ensure we can offer a rich mix of school tours, events, and public programs. Your donation allows us to showcase the Hampton University Museum. Various opportunities exist to support the museum’s programs, events and exhibitions.
In 1991 the Friends group started with 100 Founding Members who encouraged ten personal friends to join. Your contribution helps to sustain Hampton’s Standard of Excellence.
Memberships are available for as little as $25 per year (individual membership) and entitles one to a 10% discount in the Museum Shop, special member events and programs. Our membership categories are named for Friends in the Arts that are artists or historic figures associated with the Hampton University Collection. To review our membership benefits, please see the tabs below or download our membership brochure (1.81mb Adobe PDF).Â
For individual high school or college students or senior citizens*,
age 62 or older
â—† Personal membership card
â—† 10% Discount in Museum Shop (does not include publications)
â—† Special Member Events and Programs
â—† Group travel opportunities
â—† Subscription to the bi-annual newsletter Talks & Thoughts
For an individual adult
â—† Same benefits as Booker T. Washington Members
Pioneer missionary in the Congo, the first Westerner to enter the Kuba Kingdom. The first African American to collect African art, he sold his collection to Hampton in 1911.[/caption]
For individuals with children ages 18 and under
â—† Personal membership card for each name listed on the application
PLUS same benefits as Booker T. Washington Members
Elizabeth Catlett Contributing Memberâ—† Personal membership card for an individual or a couple listed on the application
â—† Complimentary copies of selected catalogs and publications
PLUS same benefits as Booker T. Washington Members
A 1945 graduate of Hampton Institute, educator, artist, art historian and founder of The International Review of African American Art published by Hampton University Museum.[/caption]
â—† Personal membership card for an individual or couple listed on the application
â—† Complimentary copies of selected catalogs and publications
â—† One complimentary copy of The International Review of African American Art
PLUS same benefits as Booker T. Washington Members
Sculptor, educator, participated in the 1939 World’s Fair in New York with the sculpture, Lift Every Voice and Sing. Hampton owns one of the few surviving maquettes.[/caption]
â—† Personal membership card for an individual or couple listed on the application
â—† Complimentary copies of selected catalogs and
publications
â—† One-year subscription to The International Review of
African American Art
PLUS same benefits as Booker T. Washington Members
Jacob Lawrence Benefactor MemberArtist, muralist, creator of the Frederick Douglass and the Harriet Tubman Series. Hampton owns the largest museum collection of Lawrence works[/caption]
â—† Personal membership card for an individual or couple listed on
the application
â—† Complimentary copies of selected catalogs and publications
â—† One-year subscription to The International Review of
African American Art
◆ Open invitation to special programs like the Director’s Tea
PLUS same benefits as Booker T. Washington Members
 Artist, educator, founder of the art department at Texas Southern University, muralist, painter, sculptor and Hampton Alumni. Hampton owns the largest museum collection of Biggers works.[/caption]
â—† Personal membership card for an individual or couple listed on the application
â—† Complimentary copies of selected catalogs and publications
â—† One-year subscription to The International Review of African American Art
◆ Open invitation to special programs like the Director’s Tea
â—† PLUS same benefits as Booker T. Washington Members
 Artist, early pioneer of African American artists, painted Hampton’s The Banjo Lesson in 1893.[/caption]
â—† Personal membership card for an individual or couple listed on
the application
â—† Complimentary copies of selected catalogs and publications
â—† One-year subscription to The International Review of
African American Art
◆ Open invitation to special programs like the Director’s Tea
â—† Discounted rate on use of the Hampton University Museum facility
PLUS same benefits as Booker T. Washington Members
â—† Personal membership card for an individual or couple listed on
the application
â—† One-year subscription to The International Review of
African American Art
◆ Open invitation to special programs like the Director’s Tea
â—† Discounted rate on use of the Hampton University Museum facility
â—† Acknowledgement in Museum publications as a contributor to
the Museum’s programs and activities during the one year that the funds were given for Legacy Circle Membership.
PLUS same benefits as Booker T. Washington Members
Whether yours is a small business or national corporation, a civic/social organization your donation/sponsorship is crucial.
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Your gift helps ensure we can offer a rich mix of school tours, events, and public programs. Your donation allows us to showcase the Hampton University Museum. Various opportunities exist to support the museum’s programs, events and exhibitions. Sponsors receive special recognition on-site, as well as on related marketing and promotional materials.
Join an amazing group of volunteers who work as docents, guides and greeters in the oldest African American museum in the United States and one of the oldest museums in Virginia. Surrounded by over 9,500 objects a Hampton University Museum Volunteer is helping to secure the legacy in perpetuity.
To become a HUMV you need to:
A Student Membership Program: Serve as a Student Ambassador for the Hampton University Museum
Mission
The Biggers’ Circle is dedicated to promoting and enhancing the students experience with the Hampton University Museum through student initiated programming, volunteerism, and community outreach. For only $10.00 (Biggers’ Circle T-Shirt) you can receive the following benefits:
We have selected the name Biggers’ Circle in honor of Dr. John Thomas Biggers. Painter, sculptor, printmaker, muralist, educator and author, John Biggers came to Hampton Institute in 1941 where he was inspired to pursue a career in art. Biggers’ art is collected privately and by many of American’s most distinguished museums.
Dr. John Biggers is among the best known and most renowned American artist. Dr. Biggers’ was Hampton University’s Artist-in-Residence for the 1990-91 academic year when he painted Tree House and House of the Turtle for the William R. and Norma B. Harvey Library. Dr. Biggers’ died January 2001.
For more information on joining the Biggers’ Circle call 757.727.5508. Open to Hampton University students
757.727.5308
Fax 757.727.5170
Archives 757.727.5374
Monday–Friday: 8am–5pm
Saturday, Sunday, and all Major Holidays: Closed
Archives are closed on Saturday
Hampton University Museum and Archives
14 Frissell Avenue
Hampton, VA 23668
Hampton University Museum
200 William R. Harvey Way
Hampton University
Hampton, VA 23668
