Dr. Robert L. Douglas PHD.

Dr. Robert L. Douglas was born in Louisville, Kentucky on August 3, 1934 to Ura and Inez (Dawson) Douglas. He passed from this life on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at Jewish Hospital. He was 88 years old. He grew up in his beloved Smoketown neighborhood with his eight brothers and sisters, all of whom pre-deceased him: Hazel (Reed); Susie (Jones); Dorothy (Anderson); Charlotte (Miller); Janet (Woodard); Ura, John, and Charles Douglas. His beloved nice, Eunice Easton, who survives him, was also a member of his childhood household. Dr. Douglas was the father of eight children: Madonna Clark; Robrina Davis; Sonya Burke; Ava; Robert Jr.; Mitchell; Dara, and Dr. Camara Douglas, all of whom remain to mourn his passing. He was a grandfather to sixteen grandchildren: Martina, Shannon, Christopher, and Douglas McElroy; Mikell Johnson; Nicole Douglas; Kenton and Keenen Burke; Anja, Ayanna, and Antonia Taylor; Mitchell, Nia, Camaya and Camara Douglas, Jr., and Ra’Miyah Sims. He is survived by twenty one great grandchildren. His devoted wife of forty four years, Laura (Green) Douglas, also survives him. Dr. Douglas graduated from Central High School in 1953. He went on to receive his B.S. from the University of Louisville in 1963 in Fine Arts. He earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa in American Studies with an emphasis in Pan African Studies in 1981. In 1983 he earned his PhD in the same discipline, studying under Dr. Darwin Turner, renowned Pan Africanist . Soon after, he accepted a post as an Assistant Professor in the Pan African Studies Department at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. In 1985, Dr. Douglas returned to Louisville to accept a joint appointment as Assistant Professor in both the Department of Pan African Studies and in Art History at the University of Louisville. Dr. Douglas served as chair of the Department of Pan African Studies at the University of Louisville from July, 1989 to June, 1995. In 1991, he helped to create the Pan African Institute for teachers at the University of Louisville, a two week summer institute for Jefferson County Public School teachers aimed at supporting multi-culturalism. He served as a member of the conference planning committee for the Black Family Conference at U of L from 1986 – 2000. In addition, he served as the curator for a number of traveling art exhibitions including: African American Contemporary Art at the Gibellina Museo Civico D’Arte Contemporanea, Universita Di Palermo Sicily in 1990 which included works by Jeff Donaldson, Wadsworth Jerrell, and David Hammons. He was appointed by the Governor to serve two terms on the Kentucky African American Heritage Commission. Dr. Douglas is also the author of numerous scholarly articles, exhibition catalogs, and two books which focus on African American art and poetry. He had a spirit of adventure which caused him to enjoy traveling throughout the world including trips to France, Spain, Switzerland, West Africa, Northern Africa, Egypt, and India. While he was an accomplished researcher and scholar, what he enjoyed most was interacting with his students in the classroom. At the time of his passing, he was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Louisville. Services are entrusted to A. D. Porter & Sons Funeral Home. The wake will take place on Thursday, February 16 th at St. Stephen Church from 6PM to 8PM. The funeral service will take place at the church on Friday, February 17 th at 1 PM. Burial will occur at Green Meadows Memorial Cemetery. Dr. Douglas was a strong proponent of multicultural education. Therefore, his family is requesting that expressions of sympathy include contributions to Simmons College of Kentucky and the Department of Pan African Studies at the University of Louisville in his honor. (www.simmonscollegeky.edu Click donate. In the comments put “in memory of Dr. Robert Douglas”)

Dr. Robert L. Douglas PHD.

August 2, 1934 - February 8, 2023