The Wayland L. Jenkins, Jr. Fine Arts Center at Chowan University

04/04/2025

Chowan University proudly announces the addition of a significant historical portrait to the Wayland Jenkins Fine Arts Center, honoring Olevia Frances Benth ...

04/04/2025

Chowan University proudly announces the addition of a significant historical portrait to the Wayland Jenkins Fine Arts Center, honoring Olevia Frances Benthall Jenkins (1863–1967). The portrait, commemorating her 100th birthday, was generously donated by her great-grandsons, Dr. William H. Marsh and Dr. Stephen S. Marsh, ensuring her enduring legacy remains a part of Chowan’s rich history. To learn more click the link below. What a great lady she was!

To view the portrait in person along with Mr. Wayland L. Jenkins, Jr. collection of 20th century art, antiques, and jewelry, call Twyla Duke, Curator, at (252) 398-1233 to schedule your tour! You will be amazed!

Chowan University proudly announces the addition of a significant historical portrait to the Wayland Jenkins Fine Arts Center, honoring Olevia Frances Benth ...

08/29/2024

The Wayland L. Jenkins, Jr. Fine Arts Center at Chowan University https://www.facebook.com/JenkinsFineArtsCenter/ Production by Nicholas Adams '20 and Kendal...

04/04/2024

https://www.millerfhc.com/obituary/wayland-jenkins-jr

Wayland Lawrence Jenkins, Jr., age 92, died Saturday, March 2, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Mr. Jenkins was born in Norfolk, Virginia on October 10, 1931, was the son of the late Wayland L., Sr. and Sallie Harrell Jenkins of Aulander, NC and the grandson of Joseph Henry and

02/16/2024

I enjoyed meeting Jeanette Ahmes today and sharing this wonderful collection with her, as well as my colleagues, Zoe Beale and Chris Whaley. Jeanette is a graduate of CU and is now studying Museum Studies at Oklahoma University and doing an internship with the Murfreesboro Historical Society and working with an archaeologist and curator at Fort Raleigh. She is working to become a Museum Curator. She is so enthusiastic about learning all that she can about curating. I believe she is going to be a great curator!

Zoe is our Interim Director of Public Relations and Digital and Social Media Coordinator. She did her internship as a museum curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England. Chris is our University Communications Graphic Designer. He did his internship here at CU. Chowan University is fortunate to have both of them!

The three enjoyed a fun museum scavenger hunt and shared some of their artful knowledge and ideas with me as well. Thank you Jeanette, Zoe, and Chris for a wonderful morning of sharing some much needed artful insight!

Pictured from left: Chris Whaley, Jeanette Ahmes, Zoe Beale

05/06/2023

I thoroughly enjoyed showing the works of art and 20th Century antiques (and sharing the stories of the artists) to Mrs. Carol Taylor and her daughter, Anna, when they came by for an impromptu visit.
Mrs. Taylor is the wife of Chowan University's interim President, Mr. Chuck Taylor and Anna is their daughter. What a wonderful visit we had!

03/28/2023

It was a pleasure having Larry and Jerry Hester from Raleigh, NC (both Chowan alum, class of 1968) visit the Fine Arts Center on Monday. They met while they were enrolled as students. I was delighted to learn that Jerry is an artist and also that Larry played on the football team when he was enrolled. I feel like I've known them forever. Jerry is also considering coming back to Chowan to study for a second degree!

08/11/2020

It was a pleasure to share Mr. Jenkins collection of fine art and 19th century antique furnishings with Mrs. Garnet Phillips and Mrs. Sofia Dakos. Mrs. Phillips lives in Murfreesboro and Mrs. Dakos is an art teacher for the Southampton County elementary schools in Virginia. I enjoyed conversation with these two lovely ladies and found that we have mutual friends!

To schedule a tour for your civic group, church group, art class, art league, or your family contact Twyla Duke by calling 252-398-1233.

08/11/2020

It was my pleasure to welcome retired Rev. Art Wilson and his wife Lavonne, who is a retired teacher, to the Fine Arts Center and show them the wonderful collection of fine art and 19th century antique furniture of Mr. Jenkins. What a lovely couple they are. They are here from Kentucky spending time with their son, Andy Wilson, Vice President for Advancement at CU, and his family.

To schedule a tour for your civic group, church group, art class, art league, or your family contact Twyla Duke by calling 252-398-1233.

05/13/2020

Join us for this virtual tour of the Wayland L. Jenkins, Jr. Fine Arts Center at Chowan University. We have two new collections! First, beautiful jewelry gifted to the center from the Jenny Beacher Cooke Jenkins Estate. Jenny and her husband Joseph Henry Jenkins acquired this impressive collection during their travels to Europe, Turkey, Greece, Guatemala and Mexico. Secondly, heirloom watches gifted from Wayland Jenkins worn by him and his mother along with jewelry given him in earlier years. In addition, you will see the permanent collection of original works of art and early 19th century furniture. We hope you enjoy this virtual tour.

Thanks to Class of 2020 Nicholas Adams and Kendall Butler for their work on this video.

To schedule a personal tour, contact Twyla Duke, Curator – (252) 398-1233.

The Wayland L. Jenkins, Jr. Fine Arts Center at Chowan University https://www.facebook.com/JenkinsFineArtsCenter/ Production by Nicholas Adams '20 and Kendal...

05/09/2020

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!
Today's post is in memory of and to honor the late mother of our philanthropist, Wayland L. Jenkins, Jr. and his brother Joseph “Joe” Henry Jenkins. Sallie Harrell Jenkins was a devoted wife and mother who loved her husband and two boys. Residing in Aulander, North Carolina she was a member of Aulander Baptist Church. She was an avid and I understand superb player of the card game, Bridge. She was a very private person who loved the beach and has traveled to New York City and to Europe.

This oil portrait of Sallie Harrell Jenkins was painted by artist, Thornwell Connelly “Connie” Pridgen who was a portrait painter who moved from upstate New York to Troy, North Carolina. For over 30 plus years Pridgen painted hundreds of portraits for people in North Carolina and several nearby states. Some of his paintings can be found in the state capital, numerous courthouses, many churches and a multitude of homes. He painted mostly in his home but on occasion he painted very large religious paintings that required him to find other places to work. (Via Stanly County Museum, Albemarle, North Carolina)

To schedule a personal tour of the Fine Arts Center for you and your family, your art league, church or civic group or students, contact Twyla Duke, Curator, (252) 398-1233