This catalog and accompanying study chronicle Bayard Rustin’s wide-ranging art collection, amassed over more than four decades. Spanning European, Asian, and African traditions, the collection reflects Rustin’s discerning eye and deep cultural curiosity. Beyond documenting key acquisitions and thematic groupings, the work delves into Rustin’s philosophy of collecting—his aesthetic sensibilities, personal anecdotes, and relationships within the art and antiques community. It reveals how his humanist worldview shaped not only what he collected, but why: each piece serving as a reflection of his values, identity, and commitment to cross-cultural understanding.
Bayard Rustin Defies Draft; Goes To Prison
A 1944 article from The Chicago Defender detailing Bayard Rustin’s principled refusal to comply with the World War II military draft based on his conscientious objection rooted in Quaker beliefs and commitment to nonviolence. The article highlights Rustin’s arrest and incarceration, his defense of civil liberties, and his rejection of both war and racial injustice. This early act of resistance marked the beginning of Rustin’s lifelong dedication to pacifism and civil rights activism, showcasing his courage during a period when draft evasion was heavily stigmatized and punished.
