A new exhibition at the William Benton Museum of Art celebrates the contributions of Minnie Negoro, a former professor who laid the foundation for UConn’s ceramics program, while also highlighting her journey through one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history.
Hana Maruyama, assistant professor of history and social and critical inquiry in CLAS and lead curator of the exhibition, hopes it will honor Negoro’s legacy at UConn while spotlighting the importance of public history.
Jason Chang—head of the Department of Social and Critical Inquiry, associate professor of history, and co-curator of the exhibition— first uncovered Negoro’s story while leading the former Asian and Asian American Studies Institute. Recognizing its significance, he partnered with Maruyama and a team of scholars and artists to examine Negoro’s impact at UConn. Their research soon uncovered an unexpected discovery—this year marks 60 years since Negoro’s arrival at the University.
The exhibit will remain on display until July 27, 2025. Maruyama hopes it will cement Negoro’s legacy at UConn while also bringing attention to the broader history of Japanese American incarceration.
“This history is still so personal for many of us,” she says. “Minnie Negoro’s story is about resilience, creativity, and the power of education. It’s about making sure we don’t forget.”