IN HONOR OF PAUL PARKMAN

We are sorry to report that Dr. Paul Parkman passed away on May 7, at the age of 91. 

Paul and his wife Elmerina Parkman were part of the small group that founded the James Renwick Alliance in 1982. Paul was our President from 1993 to 1995. Together, they were passionate, knowledgeable, and influential collectors of studio glass. In 2023 they were honored as One-Of-A-Kind by JRACraft for their dedication to the organization, Renwick Gallery and the craft field. 

With permission from William Warmus, former Curator of Modern Glass at the Corning Museum of Glass, we are sharing his recollection of Paul:
 
Paul and Elmerina are among the dearest and earliest friends we made in the art world. Renowned as early collectors of studio glass, I first met them around 1979 at the time of the New Glass exhibition at Corning. Paul’s positive attitude and sense of humor will be deeply missed. They acquired their first studio glass artwork in 1969, and the final addition to the collection was made in 2016. They donated much of their collection to the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian and to the Corning Museum of Glass.
 
During his career as a doctor, Paul was the first person to isolate the Rubella virus, and working with colleagues at the National Institutes of Health he developed the Rubella vaccine. President Lyndon Johnson wrote in a letter to Paul that:
 
“Few men can number themselves among those who directly and measurably affect human welfare, save precious lives, and bring new hope to the world. Through your accomplishments in developing an effective experimental vaccine against German measles, you have joined that tiny legion.”
 
Among the works from their collection that Paul and Elmerina gave to the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum is Dan Daily's "Parkman Coupe" (1988), made in honor of the work of Paul and his colleagues on the rubella vaccine.

Paul and Elmerina also affected the lives of countless artists, curators and fellow collectors over nearly 50 years of collecting. Paul is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Elmerina Parkman. 

Donations in Paul’s memory can be made to the the JRACraft Founders Fund, the Renwick Gallery or to the Corning Museum of Glass.

donate to the Founders Fund

On May 17, 2024 an article was featured in the Washington Post about Paul's contributions and legacy. ​

READ THE Article

Paul and Elmerina Parkman. Photograph Miriam Rosenthal.

The Parkmans (2013 One-Of-A-Kind honorees) with the Paulsons (2024 One-Of-A-Kind Honorees).

one-of-a-kind

When Paul and Elmerina Parkman were honored as One-Of-A-Kind, JRACraft asked a few key people in the field to share about their influence. 

From Betsy Broun, The Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

“The Parkmans’ friendship with the Renwick is long, rich, and heart-felt—JRA founding members and leaders, museum commissioner, donors of an outstanding glass collection, and deeply committed to the museum and its programs.When I scan the audience at one of our museum events, I invariably spot Elmerina and Paul and I often think,
‘They are our #1 fans. And, I am theirs!’”

read the craft quarterly

​ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW

An interview with Paul and Elmerina Parkman was  conducted on September 2014 by Tina Oldknow for the Archives of American Art at the Parkman's home in Kensington, Maryland. 

HEAR THE INTERVIEW