By Tori Luna

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Black Faculty and Staff Association will host a memorial honoring the late Paul R. Jones today.

Jones donated 1,700 pieces of art valued at $5 million to the University in 2008, now known as the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art. The collection includes the works of artists such as Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, James Van Der Zee and Carrie Mae Weems.  As Jones wished, it is being used at the University as a teaching collection, and eventually the art will be placed around campus.

Jones was raised in Bessemer with his four sisters, attended Alabama State University and graduated from Howard University in Washington. Jones received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University in 2006.

Jones, an Atlanta resident and civil rights activist, was in charge of President Richard Nixon’s national “Get Out the Black Vote” campaign in 1972. Jones died Jan. 26 after a brief illness. The memorial’s purpose is to celebrate a generous life.

“Paul was a fine and visionary man who devoted his career to social justice and used his love of art to preserve the legacy and history of a generation of modern African-American artists,” said Robert Olin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who will speak at the memorial.

The memorial will feature other speakers, including Priscilla Davis, Black Faculty and Staff Association President. She met Jones at a tailgate party.

“I found Jones to be an interesting, outgoing man. He was very influential and generous,” said Davis.

Jones spoke to the UA community almost a year ago with Victoria Powell. Davis said he was very open about every aspect of his life, even when it came to helping people get started collecting their own art.

“Jones liked to help promote new talent by buying their work,” Davis said. “When other people saw that Jones was interested, the sales of the new artists work skyrocketed.”

The memorial will feature a performance from the Afro-American Gospel Choir and a reception will follow.

“While we will miss him, we are privileged to honor our friend’s life and work by sharing the Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art with Alabama citizens and students,” said Dean Olin.

The memorial tribute will take place today t at 4:30 p.m. in the ballroom of the Hotel Capstone.