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.
1970 New York Times Announcement: Coalition of Leaders Unite to Honor Bayard Rustin
The New York Times announcement details the upcoming honor dinner for Bayard Rustin at the New York Hilton, featuring prominent civil rights and labor leaders as chairmen including A. Philip Randolph, Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, George Meany, and Roy Wilkins. The $100-per-ticket fundraiser aimed to raise $200,000 for the A. Philip Randolph Institute.
Bayard Rustin at Honor Dinner, New York Hilton, 1970
Bayard Rustin attends a dinner held in his honor at the New York Hilton Hotel, where he served as guest of honor as executive director of the A. Philip Randolph Institute. During his speech, Rustin called for Americans to "get rid of black rage and white fear" and issued a "Call to Americans of Goodwill" supporting the poor.
