Knoxville in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Ruth Valeria Cobb Brice

(1899 – 1972)

Photographed By Tom Bosse, April 15, 2023

1. Ruth Valeria Cobb Brice Marker

Inscription.

Ruth Valeria Cobb Brice. (1899 – 1972). Untitled, 1970. Born in Knoxville, Ruth Cobb Brice graduated from Swift Memorial College, a historically Black college in Rogersville, and was soon teaching at schools in Rogersville, Greeneville, and La Follette. During the summer months she studied at the Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State University in Nashville., The Knox County School District hired Brice in 1928 to teach art at Heiskell Elementary School, then a public school for Black children. She later taught at Maynard Elementary in Mechanicsville., Brice's interest in art blossomed more fully while studying at Knoxville College during the mid-1930's. When she had the opportunity, she studied with professional artists in Washington, D.C., In the 1940’s, she began writing poetry under the pseudonym Rachel Jane McKinney. In 1949 she published a poetry booklet called The Wrong Slant. While very short, the booklet gives her a claim to be Knoxville’s first Black female author. On her business card she described herself as "poetess and lecturer"., By 1953, she was exhibiting her artwork in Knoxville, and over the next two decades, she became a familiar face in local galleries., Brice once lived on East Knoxville’s South Georgia Street, near the urban section known as the Bottom. A neighbor and friend, noted historian Robert Booker, recalled her as a prolific artist. She later lived on Groner Driver in the Morningside area. She retired after 47 years of teaching, and devoted her life more fully to art. In 1968, Brice became the first Black artist to join the invitation-only Knoxville Watercolor Society., Brice's work was shown across the country, from Omaha, Nebraska, to New York City, as well as locally at Knoxville College, which offered an exhibit of her work in 1967; the University of Tennessee; and Dulin Gallery of Art. Near the end of her life, she painted two notable murals for East Tennessee Children's Hospital in 1970., She died in 1971 and is buried in Crestview Cemetery in the West View community. The Beck Cultural Exchange Center organized a retrospective exhibition of 50 of her works in 1985, and still keeps several of her works in its permanent collection., Special thanks to Rev. Renee Kesler for sharing this artwork from the archive at Beck Cultural Exchange Center., Downtown Art Wraps are coordinated by the Knoxville History Project, an educational nonprofit with a mission to research and promote the history and culture of Knoxville. KHP’s educational articles and publications feature colorful characters, bizarre tales, interesting buildings, curious traditions, as well as seriously influential local events. Learn more at knoxvillehistoryproject.org., Beck Cultural Exchange Center .

Untitled, 1970
Born in Knoxville, Ruth Cobb Brice graduated from Swift Memorial College, a historically Black college in Rogersville, and was soon teaching at schools in Rogersville, Greeneville, and La Follette. During the summer months she studied at the Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State University in Nashville.

The Knox County School District hired Brice in 1928 to teach art at Heiskell Elementary School, then a public school for Black children. She later taught at Maynard Elementary in Mechanicsville.

Brice's interest in art blossomed more fully while studying at Knoxville College during the mid-1930's. When she had the opportunity, she studied with professional artists in Washington, D.C.

In the 1940’s, she began writing poetry under the pseudonym Rachel Jane McKinney. In 1949 she published a poetry booklet called The Wrong Slant. While very short, the booklet gives her a claim to be Knoxville’s first Black female author. On her business card she described herself as "poetess and lecturer".

By 1953, she was exhibiting her artwork in Knoxville, and over the next two decades, she became a familiar face in local galleries.

Brice once lived on East Knoxville’s South Georgia Street, near the urban section known as the Bottom. A neighbor and friend,

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noted historian Robert Booker, recalled her as a prolific artist. She later lived on Groner Driver in the Morningside area. She retired after 47 years of teaching, and devoted her life more fully to art. In 1968, Brice became the first Black artist to join the invitation-only Knoxville Watercolor Society.

Brice's work was shown across the country, from Omaha, Nebraska, to New York City, as well as locally at Knoxville College, which offered an exhibit of her work in 1967; the University of Tennessee; and Dulin Gallery of Art. Near the end of her life, she painted two notable murals for East Tennessee Children's Hospital in 1970.

She died in 1971 and is buried in Crestview Cemetery in the West View community. The Beck Cultural Exchange Center organized a retrospective exhibition of 50 of her works in 1985, and still keeps several of her works in its permanent collection.

Special thanks to Rev. Renee Kesler for sharing this artwork
from the archive at Beck Cultural Exchange Center.

Downtown Art Wraps are coordinated by the Knoxville History Project,
an educational nonprofit with a mission to research and promote the
history and culture of Knoxville. KHP’s educational articles and publications
feature colorful characters, bizarre tales, interesting buildings, curious
traditions, as well as seriously influential

Photographed By Tom Bosse, April 15, 2023

2. Ruth Valeria Cobb Brice Marker

local events.
Learn more at knoxvillehistoryproject.org.

Beck Cultural Exchange Center

Erected by Knoxville History Project.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music. In addition, it is included in the Knoxville History Project - Downtown Art Wraps series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1970.

Location. 35° 57.852′ N, 83° 54.703′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Knox County. Marker is at the intersection of Hall of Fame Drive and Historic Preservation Way, on the left when traveling south on Hall of Fame Drive. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Knoxville TN 37915, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. James White (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Charles Krutch (about 700 feet away); Beauford Delaney (about 700 feet away); Earl O'Dell Henry (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hugh Tyler (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Earl O'Dell Henry (approx. 0.2 miles away); 400 Mulvaney Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); White's Mill (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knoxville.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 49 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 8, 2023, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.