The Harmon Foundation was established in 1921 by wealthy real-estate developer and philanthropist William E. Harmon (1862–1928). A native of the Midwest, Harmon's father was an officer in the 10th Cavalry Regiment. The Foundation originally supported a variety of causes, including playgrounds and nursing programs, but is best known for having served as a large-scale patron of African-American art that helped gain recognition for African-American artists who otherwise would have remained largely unknown. Mary B. Brady was the director of the foundation from 1922 until 1967. It offered awards for distinguished achievements in eight different fields: literature, music, fine arts, business and industry (such as banker Anthony Overton in 1927), science and innovation, education (for example, educator Janie Porter Barrett in 1929), religious service, and race relations and sponsored traveling art exhibitions. Beyond offering support directly to outstanding individuals in the Black community, its educational outreach included films and books. Scholarships and Playgrounds The Harmon Foundation was established as "a medium through which constructive and inspirational service for others may be rendered." William Harmon, who had for years been making secret philanthropic donations in the guise of his alter ego, "Jedediah Tingle," began his foundation's work with a test of the efficacy of loans vs. scholarships in college education, and outright grants to local municipalities for the purpose of establishing permanent playgrounds. Awards (1926-1933) The William E. Harmon Foundation Award for Distinguished Achievement Among Negroes was created in 1926. It was offered for distinguished achievement in many different fields among Negroes or in the cause of race relations. The award recognized achievements in eight fields: business and industry (such as banker Anthony Overton in 1927) education (for example, educator Janie Porter Barrett in 1929) fine arts literature music race relations religious service science and innovation In seeking to reward excellence and increase prestige, the Foundation did not grant awards in every field at every presentation. Awards were most regularly granted in the arts, in part to meet the pent up energies of a generation of African American intellectuals and artists. Indeed, "submissions in the fine arts category was the chief venue open to African American artists," at least during the first decade of the Foundation's existence. This helped art education programs grow in many areas. Among the many recipients of the awards were Hale Woodruff, Palmer Hayden, Archibald Motley (his winning piece was The Octoroon Girl), Countee Cullen and Langston