Where in Kentucky can you expect to find authentic tribal ceremonial masks, African tribal jewelry, an Ashanti doll and African drums? Louisville or Lexington, maybe, or possibly in the private collection of one of Kentucky’s wealthy residents. But it’s not likely you’d find a collection of original, unique African artwork valued at $12,000 belonging to a small Kentucky private college.

Until now, that is.

Christmas came a few days early on the campus of Campbellsville University when Margery Henderson of Burkesville donated the collection of West African art she and her late husband, W. Glenn Henderson, had owned for more than 30 years. The collection includes African masks used in rituals, clothing made and worn in Africa, hand-made jewelry, musical instruments and domestic tools used for cooking, farming and fishing.

The Hendersons built their collection during the four years they lived in Liberia, West Africa, working as missionaries for the International Mission Board of Southern Baptist Convention. The couple also served as missionaries in England.

Margery Henderson explains that there were a number of reasons she chose Campbellsville University to receive her collection.

Henderson’s husband, an ordained layman, businessman and educator, was a graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. She was a graduate of Bethel College, which closed in 1964 and whose records are stored at Campbellsville.

"We have close connections to Campbellsville University," she says. "I respect Campbellsville University and Glenn and I have had a lot of friends from Campbellsville University. We’ve been supportive of the school."

Henderson points out that her present pastor and his wife, Mark and Maribeth Shelton, are both Campbellsville alumni, as is Burkesville Baptist Church’s part-time minister of youth, Chris Wright. Also, Campbellsville University, founded in 1906, is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention, an additional attraction for the Baptist missionary.

Those close ties made Campbellsville an obvious choice for Henderson when she was looking to find a new home for her African art collection, but there was another important factor as well. She wanted the collection kept intact and Campbellsville University officials assured her they would honor that request.

University officials were pleased to receive the gift they hope will add to the student body’s cultural and educational experience.

"Mrs. Henderson’s gift is a substantial gift in terms of art," said Marc C. Whitt, vice president for advancement at the university. "We truly appreciate Mrs. Henderson’s kind gift that will enable our students and others to study the art of Africa."

Henderson hopes her collection will constitute many lessons about African culture.

"Art explains who a people are," she adds.

For example, some of the pieces included in the collection were meant as gifts or petitions to African gods, intended to ease the uncertainty of life. An Ashanti doll from Ghana was used as a fertility doll and two carved stone gods, called the Rice Gods, were planted in rice fields to ensure a good harvest.

Many of the pieces are of importance both spiritually and culturally. One such piece is an antelope headdress, one of the most recognizable pieces of African art and highly sought after as decoration.

The Hendersons’ collection also includes seven authentic carved and decorated tribal ceremonial masks, one elaborately carved Dancing Devil mask and a medicine mans’ stool. There is also a chiefs’ robe and head covering made of country cloth, which was woven from thread dyed by berries and embroidered into an intricate pattern. Many of the pieces have practical uses, such as a small basket used to fish, a woven reed support used for climbing palm trees to secure fronds for thatching and a sling used to keep birds out of fields.

"Mrs. Henderson has made a significant, important gift that will emphasize the African-American sense of heritage," said Dr. Robert S. Clark, vice president for academic affairs. "The artwork is an educational opportunity that will help our students understand the African-Americans’ sense of self-esteem."

Deanna Mascle is a staff writer for The Lane Report.