House in Columbus GADC Public Library
1890 - Thomas House in Georgia
The Thomas' family home in Columbus, Georgia was built by Alma Thomas' father in the early 1890s.
1907 - Thomas House in D.C.
1530 15th St., NW. Alma said about the tree in the front yard, "The display of the designs formed by the leaves of the holly tree that covers the bay window in my home greets me each morning."
Armstrong Technical High School (c. 1911) by Courtesy of the DC History CenterDC Public Library
1911 - Graduated from Armstrong Technical High School
Thomas wanted to be an architect, but that career was seen as out of reach for a woman. She chose to attend Armstrong for its emphasis on architecture and design. She then earned a teaching degree from the Minor Normal School in 1912.
1915 - Thomas on the Steps of Family Home
The oldest of four daughters, Thomas is pictured here standing on the front steps of the family home with one of her sisters, John Maurice. Alma and Maurice would live in the house for the rest of their lives.
Settlement House Wilmington (1921) by Courtesy of the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian InstitutionDC Public Library
1920 - Wilmington, DE
Unable to find a teaching position in D.C. Thomas moved to Wilmington where she taught at the Settlement House from 1915 to 1921. This was when Thomas developed an interest in costume design.
1923 - Howard Art Class
Thomas enrolled in Howard University's Home and Economics Department. Her professor, James Herring, encouraged her to transfer to the Art Department where she was able to study painting and sculpture. Thomas was the first graduate of Howard's Fine Arts Program.
Shaw Junior High School (c. 1920) by unknown, from the Historic Image Collection, People's Archive at DC Public LibraryDC Public Library
1925 - Shaw Junior High School
From 1925 to 1960, Thomas taught art at Shaw Junior High School, then located at 7th and Rhode Island Ave., NW. The school moved from this location to a new building in the 1970s. The building where Thomas taught is still standing and is now an apartment building.
Craft class at Armstong Night School (1931) by Courtesy of the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian InstitutionDC Public Library
1931 - Community Teaching
While teaching at Shaw Junior High, Thomas also taught summer, evening, and weekend classes for various organizations in the community. This photo shows Thomas teaching an evening craft class at Armstrong High School.
Thomas and members of the Little Paris group seated on a boat (1940) by Courtesy of the Columbus Museum of ArtDC Public Library
1940 - Little Paris Group
"The Little Paris Group" was co-founded in the late 1940s in D.C. by Lois Mailou Jones and Céline Tabary. They created the salon to keep Black artists inspired when there were few venues in D.C. where they could show their work.
Thomas on her European trip (1950) by Courtesy of the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian InstitutionDC Public Library
1959 - Trip to Europe
Thomas traveled to Europe to study art. The experience deeply influenced her artistic practice and intensified her focus on her painting. Shortly after this trip, she retired from teaching to concentrate exclusively on her art.
1950s - Alma with Children
This photo shows Thomas attending a community party at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church, where she was a parishioner. After retiring from teaching, Thomas was active in the community and continued teaching art to the children in the Shaw neighborhood.
1959 - Exhibit at American University
At the age of 67, Thomas along with Hilda Shapiro Thorpe had a two-person exhibition at American University, her first significant show.
1966 - Barnett-Aden Gallery
In this 1966 photograph, Thomas is seen with David Driskell and James Herring. Herring and Alonzo Aden opened the Barnett-Aden Gallery and Thomas served as the gallery's Vice President. In a segregated city, the gallery provided exhibition space for Black artists.
1970 - Thomas in her garden
Thomas's garden, and nature in general, was a constant source of inspiration for her paintings.
Thomas at the opening reception for her exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art (1972-09-08)DC Public Library
1972 - Corcoran Opening
A major exhibition of Thomas' work opened at the Corcoran Gallery on September 8, 1972. Newspapers reported on the crowd and Mayor Walter Washington designated September 8th as "Alma Thomas Day."
Laughing by Courtesy Archives of American Art, Smithsonian InstitutionDC Public Library
Whitney Museum of American Art
At the age of 81, Thomas was the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.
2015 - The White House art collection
The Obama administration acquired Thomas' painting "Resurrection," and hung it in the Old Family Dining Room in the White House. It was the first artwork by a Black woman to be acquired as part of the White House's collection, and hung in the public spaces of the White House.
DC Public Library is grateful to DC History Center, Columbus Museum of Art, the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution and Pete Souza/White House Official Photo for the images included in this exhibit.
DC Public Library’s Arts and Exhibits Program highlights the history and culture of the District of Columbia through exhibits displayed in DC Public Library buildings and online. The "Alma Thomas: Color is Life,” timeline has been generously funded by the Alma Thomas Education Fund of the DC Public Library Foundation.
Through the generosity of Susan and Dit Talley, the library now has in its collection 13 original Alma Thomas studies that will be on display outside of the teen center on the library’s second floor. Thomas spent much of her adult life teaching art at Shaw Middle School and in honor of her commitment to her students the library has named the teen center after her.
