Delilah & Joseph Pierce House

About Wanda Spence

Our home was originally built in the 1960’s and owned by our Aunt Delilah W. Pierce and Uncle Joseph L. Pierce Delilah W. Pierce (1904 -1992) – artist, curator, educator, and advocate, is known for her fluid style, which ranged from figurative to abstract. Her colorful compositions are inspired by nature, female equality, and her travels to Europe and Africa. Pierce was revered by her peers and according to art critic Judith Means: “The way she perceives the world, with joy and optimism, and the stunning clarity of her finely-developed aesthetic sense are integral not only to her character but also to the vivid visual textures of her work.” Delilah had numerous solo exhibitions and exhibited in more than 150 group shows. During the course of her professional career, she participated in exhibitions with preeminent African-American artists: Elizabeth Catlett, Margaret Burroughs, Richard Dempsey, David Driskell, William H. Johnson, Lois Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawrence, Hughie Lee Smith, Alma Thomas, James Wells, and Charles White. Her works were featured at: Barnett-Aden Gallery, Cosmos Club, Corcoran Gallery, Howard University Gallery, Margaret Dickey Gallery, Smithsonian Anacostia Museum, and Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD, Hampton Institute (University), Hampton, Virginia, Kenkeleba Gallery in New York, Old Sculpin Gallery, Edgartown, MA – Martha’s Vineyard and Cousen-Rose Gallery, Oak Bluffs, MA – Martha’s Vineyard. Her work is among the permanent collections at the prestigious National Museum of Women in the Arts, Smithsonian Museum of American Art, University of District of Columbia, Howard University, Evans Tibbs Collection, Barnett-Aden Collection, Smith-Mason Gallery of Art, and Bowie State College.

Why Wanda Spence chose East Chop

Delilah W. Pierce’s husband, Joseph L. Pierce, was a man of distinction, integrity, and high pursuits during a very complex time in American history. Mr. Pierce’s career began in 1929 at the National Benefit Life Company in Philadelphia after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. He was one of the first African American’s to be included in The Negro in the United States, a non-fiction archive of African American’s who made an impact on society. He earned many distinctions throughout his life. However, he will forever be known as one of the first African American’s to graduate from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania and a Broker/CPA/Partner at the John R. Pinkett Insurance Company in Washington, DC. According to research compiled by the Humanities Council of Washington, DC, Pinkett Insurance was, “the first insurance and real estate firm in Washington, DC that was fully owned and operated by an African-American.” He worked hard throughout his career to overcome many challenges to become the Broker/CPA/Partner, which was a first of any firm in the United States.

What makes this Cottage unique

We celebrate our rich family history and hope you will enjoy your stay.