Dr. James H. Chillman of Rice University looking at painting "Madame Cezanne en bleu"

Abstract

James H. Chillman was the first director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and one of the first faculty members of the Rice Institute, now known as Rice University. In the 1950's Chillman aired a very popular radio show called "Art is Fun" which discussed art relating to Houston, popular currents, and new art, all aimed at getting the Houston community interested in art. He was the first director of the Museum of Fine Arts until the early ’50s, and he also was Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Fine Arts (part of the Department of Architecture) at Rice from the formative years into the early ’70s. He worked half time as the director and half time on the faculty at Rice. He died in 1972 after 55 years of service to the Rice community.