The Kinsey Collection: 53 Years of Celebrating African American Art and History
Shirley and Bernard Kinsey celebrated 53 years of marriage in February. Their shared passion for the arts turned into a lifetime mission: to create one of the world’s most comprehensive exhibitions of African American art and culture outside the Smithsonian. The journey began when their 5th‑grade son Khalil asked for family history material for a school project, sparking a deeper exploration of African American heritage. Over the following decades they assembled a pioneering collection that spans the 16th century to the present.
The Kinsey’s nationally acclaimed, award‑winning exhibit has captivated over 15 million visitors and toured more than 30 cities worldwide, including stops at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, Walt Disney World’s Epcot, and the University of Hong Kong Museum. Featuring nearly 200 pieces, the Dallas exhibition will be the largest display of the collection to date.
'Ours is one of the few exhibits outside the Smithsonian that tells the African American story from 1595,' said Bernard Kinsey. 'You’ll see documents, books, and manuscripts that reveal achievements unknown to many Americans.'
Every item in the collection bridges art and history while reflecting the Kinsey family’s genuine desire to educate, motivate, and inspire visitors. The show traces African American lives and artistry from the 16th century through slavery, emancipation, the Civil Rights movement, and contemporary times. Paintings, sculptures, rare books, and personal letters celebrate a rich cultural legacy.
Among the most striking artifacts is the 'Frances Letter.' Drafted in 1854 by the wife of a slave owner who suspected her husband of an affair with his chambermaid, Frances, she wrote to a prominent Richmond slave trader requesting Frances’s sale. She entrusted the letter to Frances, who could not read, to deliver it herself. Later, by 1870 Frances had gained freedom in Georgia. The preserved, handwritten letter offers a powerful, personal glimpse into that era.
The exhibition also features works by Ernie Barnes, an original signed ruling of Brown v. Board of Education, a 1773 poetry collection by Phillis Wheatley—the first book published by an African American woman in the United States—and many other rare manuscripts, beautiful artworks, and historically significant pieces.
'I want kids, especially African American kids, to discover these untold stories,' said Shirley Kinsey. 'I also want everyone to recognize how profoundly African Americans have shaped our nation.'
Presented by Toyota Motor North America, The Kinsey Collection runs from September 21, 2019, to March 19, 2020, at the African American Museum of Dallas. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for seniors 65 and older, and $5 for children 4‑12. Children 3 and under enter free, and seniors 65+ enjoy free admission on Thursdays. Purchase tickets here.
