Hamblett-Brown House/ The Theora Hamblett House: MoMA MS Artist
- Jay Brothers
- 1 hour ago
- 1 min read
619 Van Buren Ave. Oxford, MS
Circa 1872. 2-story Carpenter Gothic style
The first owner is unknown.
In 1939, Theora Alton Hamblett (1895-1977) purchased it. She had been a teacher near Paris, MS, and after her mother passed away, moved to Oxford. She split the home and made it a boardinghouse. She took night courses in the art department at Ole Miss in 1948. In 1954, she started an art career and became a nationally recognized “primitive” artist. She was the first Mississippi artist to exhibit work at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. While many households enjoy her paintings, the University of Mississippi was willed the greatest number from her estate and holds the largest collection.
In 1986, the Jack Davis Brown family owned the home.
From 1977 through at least 1997, Margaret and Doug Fancher owned the home. Her ex-husband was Dr. Jack D. Brown.
In 2021, the Oxford Historic Preservation Commission was concerned about the neglected condition of the home. In 2024, the home was on the market and offered as estate sale.
Sources:
Comments