Each day in March, the Black ArtChive will feature a woman artist in/from Kentucky. The goal is to teach Kentuckians about the contributions that women have made to our rich culture.
Today’s focus is Dr. Elmer Lucille Allen.
ELMER LUCILLE ALLEN QUICK FACTS:
- 1931: born 23 August 1931 to mother Ophelia Guinn Hammonds and father Elmer Hammonds, in Louisville, Kentucky
- 1944: took her first art class (sewing) at Madison Street Junior High School
- 1949: graduated from Central High School
- 1949-51: attended the all Black Louisville Municipal College, (part of the University of Louisville)
- 1953: graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Nazareth College; she was 1 of only 2 Black students to graduate that year–the student was Thelma Burnley
- 1966: became the first African-American chemist at Brown-Forman. She worked for 31 years
- 1970s: began her art contemporary career (ceramics)
- 1980s: helped create the Kentucky Coalition of African American Arts
- 2025: earned an honorary doctorate from Spalding University
(Images below shared with the artist’s permission)
Sources:
- Conversations with Dr. Elmer Lucille Allen between 2021-2026
- Notable Kentucky African Americans Database
- https://americanwhiskeymag.com/articles/elmer-lucille-allen-interview/
Black ARTchive 
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