As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, the Municipal Archives staff wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and wants to extend our special thanks for the gifts we receive every day as we share in the joy of learning and discovery with our users. We recently received this special article from a remote user about a discovery she made in our collections, and we would like to pass it on to all of you!
Who was W.C.O. Jacques?
Artist, Art Educator, Lecturer in Savannah in 1894
By Rhonda Spencer
Art Diploma with an image of W.C.O. Jacques, Traveling Art Instructor and Artist – awarded to Willy Scrivens, 9/5/1894, Savannah, GA.
W.W. Law Awards Collection, City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
The above diploma is rare. It is the only known art diploma from his many traveling art schools.
W.C.O. Jacques was a traveling art educator, artist, and lecturer. He was funny, creative, and driven. It was important to him that persons of African-American heritage have financial success. And, his focus from around 1887 to his death in 1904 was to encourage art education and related careers. As one paper noted: “He traveled through 31 states and the Dominion of Canada and lectured to our people and opened classes.” (2) Ads for his school in Washington, D.C. noted “The only Negro Art Company in America.” (3)
1900 newspaper photo of W.C.O. Jacques. (4)
“Mr. Jacques as a race lecturer on the business avenues of life can not be surpassed in entertaining our people. He can hold any audience of our people, spellbound at times and then again in a roar of laughter from two to three hours. He is certainly arousing our people wherever he lectures to enter into the business world and do something for themselves.” (5)
1894 ad in the Savannah Tribune. (6)
The teaching model was for him to give lectures in local churches or halls. After the lectures, he would organize art classes – often to be held in the same places. Over the years, he managed a number of art teachers. Most classes lasted three weeks, then there would be a “grand pictorial exhibition” of the students’ work. One “grand closing Pictorial Exhibition” held in 1897 at the Union Baptist Church in Philadelphia had “over 500 pictures on exhibit.” (7)
The Savannah Tribune covered the event on the date of Willy Scriven’s diploma. “There will be a Pictorial Exhibition at St. Philips A.M.E. Church Wednesday night September 5th, 1894, by the students of Mr. W.C.O. Jacques’ Art School, who have completed their first course in the art of painting and drawing. Every lover of race enterprise is invited to come out and see the pictures made by this class of young artists. Admissions 10 cents. The finest set of Negro pictures ever exhibited in Savannah.” (7)
A follow-up story about the event was issued a few days later: The Pictorial exhibition at St. Philips Church by Prof. W.C.O. Jacques’ art school on Wednesday night was quite a success. There were some very fine pictures on exhibition. This renowned gentleman has certainly proven to Savannah that the Negro can be an artist. Some of the pictures painted by the scholars do not look like the work of an amateur, but like that of an experienced artist. Besides the pictorial scenes there were essays read by some of the young ladies, and diplomas were awarded those who had completed the first course.” (9)
W.C.O. Jacques was born August 5, 1858 in Barraque, Jefferson County, Arkansas (near Pine Bluff) under the name Coney O. Jacko. He later changed his name to W.C.O. Jacques. His parents Henry Jacko (born c. 1830 AR) and Nellie Jacko (born c. 1832 MS) were enslaved at the time of his birth. There is a sketch of his life in an 1893 newspaper that mentions “His first noted picture was a painting of Gen. Grant, which he painted for the House of Representatives of Arkansas and for which he received $160.” (10)
The Arkansas State Archives did a post about him in 2024: “The founder of the Arkansas Weekly Mansion newspaper was an artist of many mediums. Born as Coney O. Jacko, he later called himself W. C. O. Jacques. He was a painter, musician, writer, and professor. In 1880 he began the Mansion in Little Rock. Jacko was the president of the Colored Press Association in 1886. The following year he closed the Mansion and became a traveling artist and lecturer.” (11)
W.C.O. Jacques had his image on the front page of the Indianapolis Freeman in 1893. It is a similar (but not exactly the same) as the image on the Savannah diploma. (12)
In Georgia, he arranged a large exhibit at the 1895 Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition. He also did a “crayon portrait of Georgia Governor Atkinson that was displayed in the Governor’s executive office” (13)
W.C.O. Jacques was a creative leader, artist, and art educator. He had good newspaper coverage during his life, but he is almost unknown now. His story and efforts are worthy of a book. Maybe this article will excite someone’s curiosity to write about his life.
Selected Sources:
(1) https://www.savannahga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7527/1121-104_WWLawAwards_Inventory-Date?bidId=
W.W. Law Awards Collection, Box 1121-104-0017, Folder 0012 - City of Savannah Municipal Archives, Georgia. “Art Diploma - To Whom It May Concern: This is to Certify that Master Willy Scrivens has completed the first course in the Art of Drawing and Painting The Solar Rayon System and the use of Crayon Pictures and Pastelle Painting Flowers, Landscapes, Portraits, etc., and recommend the holder of this Certificate to the Public. Give under my hand this 5 day of Sept 1894 W. C. O. Jacques Art Instructor. Savannah, Ga.
(2) Image 4 of The freeman (Indianapolis [Ind.]), July 7, 1900 | Library of Congress
(3) The Washington bee. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1884-1922, October 17, 1896, Image 8 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress
(4) Indianapolis Recorder 14 July 1900 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program
(5) Image 4 of The freeman (Indianapolis [Ind.]), July 7, 1900 | Library of Congress
(6) The Savannah tribune. (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, September 22, 1894, Image 2 « Georgia Historic Newspapers
(7) The Washington bee. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1884-1922, April 03, 1897, Page 5, Image 5 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress
(8) The Savannah tribune. (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, September 01, 1894, Image 3 « Georgia Historic Newspapers
(9) The Savannah tribune. (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, September 08, 1894, Image 3 « Georgia Historic Newspapers
(10) The freeman. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1884-1927, April 29, 1893, Image 2 « Chronicling America « Library of Congress
(11) The founder of the Arkansas... - Arkansas State Archives | Facebook (2/20/2024 post)
(12) Image 1 of The freeman (Indianapolis [Ind.]), April 29, 1893 | Library of Congress
(13) The Toccoa news. (Toccoa, Ga.) 1893-1896, July 04, 1895, Image 2 « Georgia Historic Newspapers
About the Author:
Rhonda Spencer is retired from the Indiana University School of Library and Information Science where she had been the Director of Admissions. She loves libraries and archives, and she enjoyed working with students. Her degrees are in art and religion. And, in retirement, she researches lesser-known artists hoping to help them be remembered. She is grateful to the City of Savannah Municipal Archives.
To learn more about the Municipal Archives and our collections, visit www.savannahga.gov/MunicipalArchives.