Joseph H. Howard - Building The Dr. & Mrs. Howard Collection

Building The Dr. & Mrs. Howard Collection

Dr. & Mrs. Howard were both passionate collectors. She preferred African art, while his primary interest was in all things musical, for he not only collected the drums of many nations. He also collected stamps, books, photos, instrument making techniques and instruments to accompany the drums. He had a particular interest in the musical heritage of the Djuka people of Surinam and not only collected their instruments, but also acquired elaborately hand-carved furniture, including the double doors to his home. At first glance many of these items could easily be confused with African artifacts, but stylistically African instruments have become more utilitarian over the years. As Dr. Howard pointed out, to this researcher, during a visit to his home the Djuka people had maintained their culture in stasis due to the isolated nature of their existence.

Because of the nature of his profession, Dr. Howard was able to arrange his schedule to accommodate yearly excursions abroad looking for folk instruments, which he defined as being those instruments that the folk actually used. In all of his collecting he always looked to purchase the instruments of the musicians themselves, as opposed to acquiring tourist versions of the instruments.

Read more about this topic:  Joseph H. Howard

Famous quotes containing the words building the, building, howard and/or collection:

    The real dividing line between early childhood and middle childhood is not between the fifth year and the sixth year—it is more nearly when children are about seven or eight, moving on toward nine. Building the barrier at six has no psychological basis. It has come about only from the historic-economic-political fact that the age of six is when we provide schools for all.
    James L. Hymes, Jr. (20th century)

    The limits of prudence: one cannot jump out of a burning building gradually.
    Mason Cooley (b. 1927)

    I thank those who were good enough to say something pleasant about the incoming administration, for I am glad to get it now. I heard of the man who went into office with a majority and went out with unanimity.
    —William Howard Taft (1857–1930)

    All urbanization, pushed beyond a certain point, automatically becomes suburbanization.... Every great city is just a collection of suburbs. Its inhabitants ... do not live in their city; they merely inhabit it.
    Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)