From teacher to collector, Atlanta woman is keeper of black culture

ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION
By Nedra Rhone
Theresa Easton, a retired school teacher from New York who has spent 30 years amassing a collection of art and memorabilia of African American interest, has converted the third floor of her home into a art gallery. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
ATLANTA---It started with books -- first editions, most all of them signed and some of them with a story behind the story on the pages. Tucked on a second floor bookshelf are the full works of Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Walter Mosley and other authors of the contemporary African-American literary canon. When any author of note passed through Barnes & Noble Headquarters on Fifth Avenue in New York, Theresa Easton, a former New York City school teacher was there with a book in hand. Eventually she graduated from books to art, sports memorabilia and other items until she amassed a collection celebrating decades of black achievement including more than 200 works of art by 64 different artists. Eight years ago, after retiring to Atlanta, Easton searched for a home with enough space to house her collection. [More]
Theresa Easton, a retired school teacher from New York made it her mission to collect art and memorabilia that represents black people and black culture in a postive light.