The History of Douglas Anderson

By: Luigi Avila and Liha Smith

Edited by: Daysha Campbell

A picture of Douglas Anderson's Campus, via Duval Schools.

Students and artists have always wondered about the knowledge of artistic history and culture in Jacksonville can impact students involved in arts, like students at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. Jacksonville is home to many different magnet schools; Douglas Anderson being one of them. DA students have always been curious about how they can influence the artistic history of Jacksonville in their music, artwork, or creative dance. Art is very substantial to human society. Art is something that heals the world; art is something that is made and done every day by a variety of people, by many diverse cultures. Since art and culture is something that everyone takes part in, it only makes sense for DA students to question the history of art and culture in Jacksonville. 

In an interview with Lena Foster, a Sophomore Visual Artist at Douglas Anderson, she explains how she thinks artistic history is salient to DA students. “Artistic history is important because it challenges us. Most of the time we’re concerned about who’s saying what or what’s directly affecting us, that we don’t stop and observe. I am very guilty of that, and so many others are too. Being given a perimeter for a project that doesn’t involve something personal for me allowed me to learn and empathize with the history of Jacksonville. It changed my perspective of the city.” 

Jacksonville's art community is immense—with different cultures and mediums—supporting art. Allowing young artists to have a better mindset, unification, and understanding of other cultures—it also grows a lot of curiosity with how art started in Jacksonville. In an article by Folio Weekly, it states that “67 percent of Americans believe “the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race, and ethnicity” and 62 percent agree that the arts “help me understand other cultures better.” Cultures make up a huge part of the art community because it straightforwardly influences the subject matter, style and art interpretation. Artists are a product of the culture that they come from; most artists are affected by the norms of their society. However, this is crucial to the community because it provides diversity in all the distinct types of art that is made or performed, it is what makes up art. All art is different, meaning all cultures are different. Supporting arts is highly important, especially for teenagers. Teenagers like me, and other students, tend to be more fixated and influenced by things that are highly suggested upon. 

 Museum of Contemporary Arts 

One of the first fine art museums in Jacksonville, Museum of Contemporary Arts, also known as MOCA, was founded in 1924, allowing more artist works to be displayed and showcased. The Museum of Contemporary Arts was the first visual arts organization in Jacksonville. MOCA is one of the largest contemporary art museums in the Southeastern United States. It displays pieces by national, international, and regional artists. According to a website published by the Museum of Contemporary Arts it says, “The museum grew out of the work of the Women’s Club of Jacksonville, which regularly hosted art exhibitions for the public, with the purpose of fundraising for the city’s public schools.” These women did a lot for our city, making influential changes, like bringing art and culture to our city. This was before they even had the right to vote! These are the four women who made these impacting transformations possible: Merrydelle Hoyt, Rose Tharp, Louese Washburn, and Edith Harrison. These women founded the Jacksonville Fine Arts Society, leading to the phenomenal creation of MOCA Jacksonville. 

The Cummer Museum 

Ninah Cummer was an art collector, a garden connoisseur, and a civil leader. She left her art collection and her home on the riverfront to create the Cummer Museum. In 1958, Ninah Cummer affected the Jacksonville community by devoting her home, and her art collection to the public. According to the Cummer Museum’s website, “Today, the core collection of 60 pieces from Mrs. Cummer’s estate has grown to include more than 5,000 works of art.” When you hear the word devotion, think about Ninah Cummer. The woman that stayed true to Jacksonville by giving the community a feeling of living history that helps us understand ourselves from times gone by. 

Sometimes, an impact for Douglas Anderson students can be something emotional. Having a devoted mentality and willingness to dedicate themselves to the Jacksonville community can drive a student to work harder and create art that is inspirational to others and gives them the morale to create art. When devotion is reflected in artwork it can supply a better intent to the intended audience. 

LaVilla 

Harlem of the South, also commonly known as LaVilla, is a neighborhood that was rich in the black community. LaVilla was constantly populated by black entrepreneurs, artists, and civil rights activists. LaVilla is continuously left out of Jacksonville’s history, and it is very important to touch base with something that was so substantial to black culture. In this article by Providence College, it acknowledges “Without LaVilla, there would not be a ‘Black National Anthem’. The development of blues music was enabled by LaVilla’s Black investors and community. Ma Rainey, Blind Blake, J. Rosamond Johnson, and Ray Charles hailed from LaVilla, and their stories and accomplishments have been separated from Jacksonville’s narrative.” 

Foster further explains how she got closer to artistic history by attending a school in the Harlem of the South. “It really motivated me throughout middle school to learn about the renaissance of the south right here in Jacksonville. The fact that I went to a middle school in the heart of it was very impactful to me and many of my close friends.” Being at LaVilla in an area being classified as, ‘Harlem of the South,’ it can allow students to be more impactful with their art. Knowing that LaVilla was an area for many black civilians, reaching out and appealing to how they felt can allow for a universal artistic experience for everyone, not just black people, but it can help others understand the emotions behind a person of color. 

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts 

Speaking of black culture, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts is named after Douglas Anderson, a civil rights activist. Originally, DA was called South Jacksonville School, and it opened in 1922. It was prominent with black students up until 1968. It was renovated and reopened in 1985, and it was renamed, ‘Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.’ 

DA students' curiosity about the artistic history of Jacksonville improves their art tremendously. Giving these students a new perspective on another aspect of the community can influence their wants to continue to make art. Students' drive to be the artistic history can impact not only their art, but their future as well. You never know, maybe other Douglas Anderson students will start to be curious about your influences on Jacksonville.