Samuel A. Countee (April 1, 1909 – September 11, 1959) was a painter and sculptor. SSG Samuel A. Countee Hall at Fort Leonard Wood is named in his honor.

Early life and education

Countee was born in

Marshall, Texas Marshall is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat of Harrison County, Texas, Harrison County and a cultural and educational center of the Ark-La-Tex region. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the population of M ...

to Thomas Countee and Nannie Salina Yates Countee. He attended Booker T. Washington High School from 1924 to 1928. Countee graduated in 1934 with a degree in art from Bishop College. While in college, he painted portraits of faculty and administrators to raise money for tuition. Countee graduated from college in 1934 after which he earned a scholarship to the Boston Museum of Arts where he served as an artist-in-residence.

Career

Samuel Countee mural during restoration process

Countee's work depicted African-American life. From 1933-1935, Countee exhibited his art in a number of shows. In 1933, his piece, ''Little Brown Boy,'' was exhibited by the William E. Harmon Foundation''.'' He also exhibited at Howard University, Atlanta University,

Smith College Smith College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smith (Smith College ...

, Institute of Modern Art in Boston, and the 1936 Texas Centennial's Hall of Negro Life. Countee was drafted into the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

in 1942 where he served in the 436th Engineer General Service Dump Truck Company. While in the Army, he was commissioned to create a mural for the African-American Officers’ Club at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He also painted sets for

USO The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

shows. Countee moved to New York after being discharged from the military. He became known among New York artists and went on to paint portraits of Lucille Armstrong,

Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; March 1, 1927) is an American singer, activist, and actor. As arguably the most successful Jamaican-American pop star, he popularized the Trinbagonian Caribbean musical style with an interna ...

, and

Marian Anderson Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897April 8, 1993) was an American contralto. She performed a wide range of music, from opera to Spiritual (music), spirituals. Anderson performed with renowned orchestras in major concert and recital venues throu ...

Personal life

Countee settled in Long Island, New York. He married Mary Miner in 1955. Countee died of cancer on September 11, 1959.

Legacy

In 2019, the Fort Leonard Wood African-American Officers’ Club that houses Countee's mural was renamed SSG Samuel A. Countee Hall. Countee's niece, Sammie Witing-Ellis, helped to attribute the mural to her uncle after finding matching work in his sketchbook.

References

External links

Mural, SSG Samuel A. Countee Hall, Fort Leanord Wood
{{DEFAULTSORT:Countee, Samuel A. 1909 births 1959 deaths African-American artists Artists from Texas Artists from New York City Artists from New York (state)