Della Hardman

Della Brown Taylor Hardman (May 20, 1922– December 13, 2005) was an American artist born in Charleston, West Virginia in 1922.

Early life and education Educated at the segregated Garnet High School, she later went on to get her degree at West Virginia State University in Institute and then Boston University. In 1946, she married Francis C. Taylor, Sr. She worked at the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University for two years beginning in 1952. She taught art in the Boston public school system, and in 1956 took a post as an art professor at West Virginia State University, where she taught for 30 years. She hosted "The Black Experience" on WKAZ radio in Charleston, WV between 1978 and 1988.

Later on in life, she moved to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. While there, she was awarded the first Humanitarian Award from the Martha's Vineyard NAACP for her community service.

Della Hardman Day is celebrated every year on the island of Martha's Vineyard. In 2014, Harvard professor Henry Louis (Skip) Gates Jr., a fellow West Virginian, spoke at Della Hardman Day. The event is hosted by the town of Oak Bluffs and the festivities are in Ocean Park on the last Saturday of July.

Death She died in Martha's Vineyard in 2005.