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Avery Clayton

1947 – 2009

American artist, educator, entrepreneur, and historian

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About Avery Clayton

Lived 1947 – 2009 (aged 62). Avery Clayton was an American manager, artist, educator, entrepreneur and historian.

Avery Clayton (March 17, 1947–November 26, 2009) was an artist, educator, entrepreneur, and historian. He is known for having established a library and museum to house African American artifacts collected by his mother, the late Mayme Agnew Clayton.

Biography Clayton was born in Los Angeles, the eldest of three sons born to Andrew Clayton, a barbershop owner and Mayme Agnew, a librarian, who over forty years would assemble an impressive collection of African-American artifacts.

After serving in the Army during the Vietnam War, Clayton studied at Los Angeles City College and graduated with a bachelor's degree in art from UCLA. He was known locally for his lithographs of African-American figures, and owned two art galleries.

In 2006, just days before his mother's death at age 83, Clayton signed a $1-a-year lease on a former courthouse in Culver City, California to house his mother's extensive collection.

Cynthia Hudley, a UC Santa Barbara professor and vice president of the facility's board of directors, was named interim director in the wake of Clayton's death.

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Important facts

Birth century
Education
Los Angeles City College, University of California, Los Angeles
Employers
Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum

Family & relationships

Parent
Mayme Agnew Clayton

People in Avery Clayton's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Avery Clayton's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Avery Clayton?

American artist, educator, entrepreneur, and historian

When was Avery Clayton born?

Avery Clayton was born on 17 March 1947 in Los Angeles.

When did Avery Clayton die?

Avery Clayton died on 26 November 2009.

What was Avery Clayton's occupation?

Avery Clayton was a manager, artist, educator, entrepreneur and historian.

What nationality was Avery Clayton?

Avery Clayton was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Avery Clayton

· Wikidata: Q4828375

· DBpedia: Avery Clayton

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Avery Clayton. https://biography.guide/avery-clayton/

MLA: "Avery Clayton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/avery-clayton/.

Chicago: "Avery Clayton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/avery-clayton/.

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