A Legacy of Art and Advocacy

A Legacy of Art and Advocacy

Selma Hortense Burke (1900-1995), born in Mooresville, North Carolina, was a trailblazing American sculptor and educator. Best known for her portrait bust of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which many believe inspired the image on the U.S. dime, Burke played a significant role in the Harlem Renaissance. She created numerous public artworks, often depicting notable Black American figures like Booker T. Washington, Duke Ellington, and Mary McLeod Bethune.

From a young age, Burke was captivated by clay. Despite her mother’s concerns about an art career's financial stability, she followed her passion, first becoming a registered nurse before fully committing to sculpture. During World War II, she broke barriers by serving as one of the first Black American women in the U.S. Navy.

Burke's legacy extends beyond her sculptures. Her contributions to education and the arts community continue to be celebrated for their beauty and cultural significance.

Identification on verso (handwritten and stamped): Federal Art Project W.P.A.; Photographic Division; 235 East 42nd Street; New York City Samuel Huntington H. School, 109th Ave, Union Hall; Location: Jamaica; Date: 1/25/38; Negative No.: 27201; Photographer: Horn.Identification on accompanying label (typewritten): Selma Burke, WPA Federal Art Project Sculptor, taking part in the presentation ceremonies of her plaster portrait of Samuel Huntington, at the commencement exercises at Samuel Huntington Junior High School, Jamaica, with her is Dr. Samuel M. Levinson, principal of the school.