Hilda Brown, Professor Of Art at College, Dies

Hilda Wilkinson Brown, 86, a retired professor of fine arts and art history at the old Miner Normal School and the D.C. Teachers College, died of congestive heart failure Sunday at her home in Washington.

Mrs. Brown, who was born in Washington, graduated from the old M Street High School. She graduated from Miner Normal and later earned a bachelor's degree in education at Howard University and a master's degree at Columbia University. She also held degrees from the National Academy of Design and the Cooper Union School of Art. She attended the Art Students League in New York.

She began her career at Miner Normal in 1923, teaching fine arts and art history. She later became chairman of its art department. Miner and Wilson Teachers College were merged to form D.C. Teachers College and Mrs. Brown was an assistant professor there at the time of her retirement in 1961. D.C. Teachers College now is part of the University of the District of Columbia.

Mrs. Brown was a painter herself. Her work was widely exhibited in this country and is included in the Barnett Aven Collection in Washington. She was a member of the board of directors of that organization. wShe also illustrated "The Negro Family in the United States," by E. Franklin Frazier.

In private life, Mrs. Brown was a member of the Coo Coos, which is affiliated with The Girl Friends, a social organization. She maintained a summer residence at Oak Bluff, Martha's Vineyard, Mass., where she did some of her painting.

Mrs. Brown's husband, Dr. Shcley Brown, a physician, died in 1976.

Survivors include two sisters, Ethel C. Wilkinson of Washington, Lilian W. Wethers of New York City, and one brother, William H. H. Wilkinson of Harsdale, N.Y