History Of The
Foundation
Advancing the Legacy
The James Weldon Johnson Foundation, established as a 501(c)3 public charity in 2016, is dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of James Weldon Johnson, a visionary writer, lyricist, poet, diplomat, attorney, and leader of the NAACP. At the heart of the Foundation’s work is the preservation of Five Acres, Johnson’s historic summer home and writing cabin in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
James Weldon Johnson, Photograph by Carl Van Vechten, 1932, Carl Van Vechten Papers Relating to African American Arts and Letters. James Weldon Johnson Collection in the Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
James Weldon Johnson with Fisk University Students, James Weldon Johnson and Grace Nail Johnson Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Notably, Johnson’s writing cabin at Five Acres and Frederick Douglass’s Growlery at Cedar Hill are among the only known separate cabins designed by African American men in their time for dedicated creative and intellectual work. The writing cabin at Five Acres is undergoing meticulous restoration to recreate the inspiring environment where Johnson produced some of his most celebrated works, including God’s Trombones and Along This Way, works that continue to resonate as profound contributions to literature, culture, and the universal human experience.
James Weldon Johnson, Executive Secretary, NAACP, New York City. James Weldon Johnson and Grace Nail Johnson Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Augusta Savage, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," (Harp), James Weldon Johnson and Grace Nail Johnson Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Rufus Jones, Co-founder and President of the James Weldon Johnson Foundation at Five Acres
Beyond its residencies, the Foundation actively supports initiatives in the fine and performing arts, fostering cultural enrichment, intellectual exploration, and creativity within contemporary society.
Through its preservation efforts, innovative programs, and commitment to the arts, the James Weldon Johnson Foundation celebrates Johnson’s unparalleled contributions to American history, literature, and global culture. These endeavors ensure his legacy continues to inspire future generations and provide spaces for reflection, creation, and connection.
James Weldon Johnson With Pipe at Five Acres
Brian Poli Dixon, Artist Residency Program, James Weldon Johnson Foundation
Grace Nail Johnson, James Weldon Johnson and Grace Nail Johnson Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Arts and the Foundation
In 2017, the Foundation launched the James Weldon Johnson Fellowship in the Arts, a prestigious artist residency program that brings together emerging, mid-career, and established creatives whose work reflects Johnson’s enduring commitment to cultural progress, justice, and artistic expression. To further amplify the work of its Fellows, the Foundation established The LIFT Collective, a curated showcase of original works, including giclée prints, photography, fine jewelry, sculpture, books, and mixed media created by Fellows from 2017 to 2020 (with plans for future collections).
James Weldon Johnson. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
“I will not allow one prejudiced person or one million or one hundred million to blight my life. I will not let prejudice or any of its attendant humiliations and injustices bear me down to spiritual defeat. My inner life is mine, and I shall defend and maintain its integrity against all the powers of hell.”
—James Weldon Johnson, NAACP Pamphlet, 1916