Help us honor and recognize artist, Ollie Jackson

More than 100 years ago in 1911, Ollie Jackson began her studies at John Herron Art Institute, now known as Herron School of Art and Design, IUPUI. Miss Jackson enrolled in drawing and painting classes at the institute and was taught by two Hoosier Group members William Forsyth and Clifton A. Wheeler. Ollie was awarded a scholarship to attend Herron for a second year in 1912.

Well-known classmates included John Wesley Hardrick and Roy A. Ketcham, with the inclusion of Carl C. Graf as class monitor. Miss Jackson exhibited at the annual student exhibition in 1912. She was one of the early African American female students at the school and represents the diversity of John Herron Art Institute from its founding.

Unfortunately, four years later, Ollie Jackson passed away due to tuberculosis in 1917. She was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in an unmarked grave. A group of Herron alumni have discovered the details of Ollie Jackson’s life and would like to honor her accomplishments.

For this GoFundMe project, we intend to fund the installation of a marker for her grave. Later, we also plan to create a bronze plaque with her image to be installed at Herron School of Art and Design to serve as an inspiration to the current and future students.