The Active Historian

Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post! Today, I want to show you around the Jacobson House – Native Art Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Let’s get started!

Who was Oscar Jacobson?

Anders Oskar Jacobson was born in Vastra Ekno, Kalmar Lan, Sweden on May 16, 1882. His family emigrated to the United State sin 1890 and settled in Lindsborg, Kansas.

Jacobson earned his doctorate degree in art at Bethany College in Lindsborg.

In 1915, Dr. Jacobson moved to Norman, Oklahoma to be the director of the School of Art at the University of Oklahoma (OU). He served in this position for the next thirty nine years before retiring in 1954.

Dr. Jacobson was a talented painter of portraits and landscapes. He curated much of the collection which would later become the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

In 1927, Dr. Jacobson and Edith Mahier founded a program for Kiowa art students. These students became known as the Kiowa Six. The Kiowa Tribe would formally adopt Dr. Jacobson as a member of their tribe.

*The Kiowa Six included Lois Smoky Kaulaity, James Auchiah, Jack Hokeah, Spencer Asah, Stephen Mopope, Monroe Tsatoke.

Working with the Works Progress Administration (WPA), Dr. Jacobson secured commissions for Native American artists to paint murals in the Federal Art Project. According the Jacobson House website, several of these murals still survive today.

Dr. Jacobson married Sophie Brousse and they had three children. Sophie wrote under the pen name Jeanne d’Ucel. She and her husband co-wrote essays on Native American art.

In 1931, Dr. Jacobson received the gold medal at the Mid-Western Exhibition at the Kansas City Art Institute.

In 1949, Dr. Jacobson was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Dr. Jacobson passed away on September 15, 1966 after many years of service to the art community.

History of the Jacobson House

Dr. Oscar B. Jacobson and his wife built this home in 1916 and 1917. Finding building materials wasn’t easy due to World War I shortages. Many of the design elements have Swedish origins which are a tribute to Jacobson’s heritage. Several other elements have a classical style. The open porches, open windows, and French doors allow the home to extend into the yard making it seem bigger. The gardens at this home are also beautifully landscaped, a tribute to how the Jacobsons had kept it.

In 1966, the home became a rental after Dr. Jacobson passed away. It was eventually gifted to the OU Foundation and sold to the University of Oklahoma (OU). The University planned to raze the home and create more parking, but a group of citizens prevented this. The house was preserved and serves as a Native Art Center today.

Native Art Center

“Collective Wisdom” is currently on exhibition in the Native Art Center. The exhibition panel reads:

“Showcasing more than 20 First American artists, each piece is a unique collaboration between two or more artists. By incorporating their own medium and interweaving culture, experiences, and relationships, these artists have developed a display representing the unique facets of the contemporary First American art world.”

The following piece was created by August Walker.

Historical Marker

“The home of Swedish born artist, Oscar B. Jacobson & Jeanne d’Ucel became a center for international celebrities, artists & writers, 1918-1966. Jacobson, Director, of O.U. School of Arts, 1915-45, revolutionized art education in Oklahoma. He is also credited with nurturing the “renaissance” of Native American painting on the Southern Plains in the 1920s.”

Concluding Thoughts

I enjoyed visiting the Jacobson House – Native Art Center. I hope you’ll go visit this museum and support Native American art! Happy traveling! I’ll talk to ya soon! 🙂

Visit

609 Chautauqua Ave
Norman, OK 73069

Sources

Jacobson House – Native Art Center – Website

Volunteer at the museum who shared information