A little history...
Frederic H. Douglas served as curator of the Denver Art Museum's internationally recognized collection of American Indian art
from 1929 to 1956. Like Douglas, who became the country's leading pioneer in the study of American Indian art, the museum
itself was to set influential precedents, challenging the traditional concepts of both ethnographic and art museums when it first
exhibited Native American material as art. Indeed, the very idea of an art museum with a separate department in this area was
unique when the trustees appointed the first curator in 1925.
Just prior to World War II, Douglas, for a short time the museum's director, established an additional curatorial position. The new
post of curator of Native Arts, which Douglas filled himself, was founded so that the museum might begin to collect and exhibit the
traditional arts of Africa and Oceania. From its inception, the department was meant only to round out the museum's already
important interest in ethnographic art. Over the years, as the museum expanded, it became unable to staff the two departments
separately. At about the time of Douglas's death in 1956, the Department of Indian Art and Native Arts became, simply, the Native
Arts Department.
In 1974 the Douglas Society was founded to honor and ensure the continuance of the work of Frederic Douglas.
CLICK HERE to read more about Frederick Douglas
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Are YOU fascinated by the art of the native people of America, Canada, Africa, or Oceania?
Then you will enjoy bring a member of the Douglas Society!
When you become a member of
THE DOUGLAS SOCIETY
you will join a group of friends who share your interest in these wonderful artworks. This special group supports the Native Arts
Department's programs in education, acquisition, and conservation.
Douglas Society members enjoy many special opportunities:
SPECIAL WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS about collecting and preserving Native objects
ANNUAL BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR AND CONVERSATIONS with members of the curatorial staff
LECTURES AND MEETINGS with distinguished scholars and native artists and performers
PRIVATE COLLECTION TOURS in Denver and throughout the United States
ANNUAL 'MEMBERS ONLY' AUCTION AND DINNER
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER with articles about new acquisitions, native artists, objects in the collections as well as special
events.
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Membership levels
INDIVIDUAL - $30
Participation in all Douglas Society events.
FAMILY - $50
All benefits of Individual membership for two adults and children under 18.
PATRON - $100
All benefits of Family membership and special gift.
BENEFACTOR - $250
All benefits of Patron membership and invitations to private receptions and special tours.
COLLECTOR - $500
All benefits of Benefactor membership and a private tour with a curator.
CONNOISSEUR - $1000
All benefits of Collector membership, listing as contributor to the next art purchase made by the Douglas Society,
and a luncheon with the Museum Director.
**To print a membership form CLICK HERE**
*You must be an active member of the Denver Art Museum to join the Douglas Society.
You will have an opportunity to join the Denver Art Museum on the Douglas Society membership form if you need to.
A few notes:
Please include your email address on the form, this will allow you to receive online newsletters
as well as advanced notifications about special events!
Please include on the form your areas of interest: American Indian, Oceanic or African
If you have any questions at all about membership in the Douglas Society,
please call the Rand Smith at 303-570-4284 or you can email him at
rand@douglassociety.org
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