Sara Joyner: The First State Art Supervisor in Virginia

Abstract

This biographical narrative of Sara Joyner (1900-1967), Virginia’s first state art supervisor, draws on writings by Joyner, original state Department of Education reports, and personal interviews to describe an exceptional art educator, activist, and founder of the National Art Education Association (NAEA). As a White, privileged woman raised in the racially segregated South, she was courageous in her efforts and insightful in her convictions. As Virginia’s first state art supervisor, she worked toward advancing art education for all children in Virginia. Joyner helped organize a Negro Art Section of the Virginia Education Association, and in 1947 hired Mary Godfrey, the first African American assistant supervisor of Art Education in Virginia. Joyner played an important role in the founding of NAEA and was NAEA’s first Vice President. As an art teacher, art administrator, and agent for social change, she is a role model for all art educators.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The original version of this article was presented by David Burton at the Brushes with History: Imagination and Innovation in Art Education History conference at Teachers College, Columbia University, in New York, NY, on November 21, 2015.

Pearl Quick taught art in the Henrico County Public Schools for 25 years. She served for 3½ years as Art Supervisor for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the position first held by Sara Joyner from 1945 to 1957.

Notes

¹ John Dewey was a Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University and Teachers College, Columbia from 1904 to 1930. Although he had left by the time Joyner arrived at Teachers College, his influence was still pervasive.

² In 1945, the United States had already been engaged in World War II for 4 years. Although men continued to occupy most positions in government, including the Virginia Department of Education, women found new opportunities to step up and exercise their strengths and initiatives in many areas, including education.

³ One of the authors, Pearl Quick, served for 3½ years as art supervisor for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the position first held by Sara Joyner from 1945 to 1957. She had direct access to Virginia Department of Education documents authored by or related to Sara Joyner. She was also able to interview colleagues and friends who knew Joyner personally.

⁴ Racial terms have changed over the years. In the 1940s, “Negro” was a widely used term for African American.

⁵ Not to be confused with Marion Richardson’s 1948 book of the same title.