"Beulah Ecton Woodard"{11-11-1895-July 13,1955}

Born near Frankfort,Ohio,she was the youngest daughter in the William P.Ecton family.Nothing affected more deeply than a native African she met when she was 12.This began her lifelong interest in the culture of Africa.Beulah migrated to California and settled near Los Angeles in what is now Vernon.While at Polytechnic High School,Beulah began to show interest in sculpture and developed her art further with courses at the Los Angeles Art School,the Otis Institute,and the University of Southern California.Felix Piano,David Edstrom,Glen Lukens,and Prince Troubresky tutored her.After Beulah married Brady Woodard,she began to work in a studio in the rear of their home.Her earliest published work was as a columnist in the California News along with displays in the office window of the publication.Soon after this,she was invited to display her work at the Vernon Branch Library and the Los Angeles Central Library downtown.This led to a one-person show in 1935 at the Los Angeles Central Library downtown.Beulah popularity as a lecturer grew throughout southern California.,from institutions ranging from elementary to university graduate schools.Beulah won a number of awards,including the third all-City Art Festival in 1953.Despite her full schedule,Beulah always found time to support community causes and promote other artist.She was an important organizer of both the Los Angeles Negro Art Association in 1937 and the Eleven Associated Artist Gallery in 1950.Before what was perhaps her most notable exhibition,in a number of German museums.