- A celebration of American History through African American Art and Culture -

(BLACK PR WIRE) – San Francisco, January 16, 2013- To honor the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) joins with several of the nation’s leading African American museums to host a yearlong tour of “The Kinsey Collection: Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey –Where Art and History Intersect.” The exhibit contains a world-class collection of art and artifacts chronicling African American history and culture dating to the 1600s, including an early copy of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The tour officially launches during Black History Month, making its first stop in San Francisco on Feb. 8, 2013, at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD). It later moves to The Harvey B. Gantt Center in Charlotte, N.C., and finally to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore (refer to tour schedule below for details).

The Kinsey Collection brings to life many important and untold stories involving the rich history of African Americans, their achievements and contributions, as well as their struggles for equality and civil rights that remain relevant today.

“The appreciation of culture, diversity and human rights is at the heart of our vision and values as a company,” said Jimmie Paschall, executive vice president, Enterprise Diversity and Inclusion, Wells Fargo. “Sponsoring the Kinsey Collection allows us to honor a pivotal moment in American history that ultimately shaped this country, its aspiration and realities, and its commitment to civil rights for all Americans.”

“Sponsoring this tour provides Wells Fargo with the perfect opportunity to encourage conversations about the value of diversity and inclusion, in our nation’s past and future,” said Michelle Thornhill, senior vice president, African American segment manager, Wells Fargo. “The tour also allows us to recommit to the fundamental principles of equality that promote community, mutual understanding and shared success.”

In addition to hosting the nationally acclaimed exhibit in the three cities mentioned above, Wells Fargo will present special events in each location in conjunction with the host museum. Activities will include an intimate conversation featuring Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, team member seminars and partnerships with local schools to provide access to the exhibit. Additional plans are underway to extend this experience to broader audiences, including a curated micro-site.

“The Kinsey Collection strives to give our ancestors a voice, name and personality, enabling the viewer to understand the challenges, obstacles, triumphs and extraordinary sacrifice of African Americans who’ve greatly contributed to the success of this country,” said Bernard Kinsey. “We are delighted to join with Wells Fargo in honoring the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and look forward to bringing this exhibition to national audiences.”

Kinsey Collection Celebratory Tour Schedule:

• San Francisco: Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD)- Feb. 8–May 19, 2013

• Charlotte: Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Art + Culture- June 27–September 14

• Baltimore: Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture- November 1–January 10, 2014

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.4 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 9,000 stores, 12,000 ATMs, the Internet (wellsfargo.com), and has offices in more than 35 countries to support the bank’s customers who conduct business in the global economy. With more than 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune’s 2012 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy all our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially.

About The Kinsey Collection
The Kinsey Collection strives to Educate, Motivate & Inspire Americans to learn more about the remarkable contributions of African Americans in building America. The Kinsey Collection has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and scores of television/radio shows and newspapers/magazines nationally. It has been cited in three national awards including the nation’s highest honor, The President’s Medal for Museum and Library Services, and was selected as one of the “Top Ten exhibits to see in the world”. With their son Khalil, the Kinseys have developed a 198-page coffee table book that has been adopted by the State of Florida to teach African American history, and a companion lecture series titled “What You Didn’t Learn in High School History”. The Kinsey Collection exhibition has been on display in eight museums including the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, with an iteration of the collection showing at EPCOT Center, Walt Disney World Resort through 2015.