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Ho, Wai-kam (1925-2004)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1925 - 2004

Biography

Wai-kam Ho was born near Canton, China in 1925. He studied at Lingnan University and attained a master's degree in Chinese history and Asian art from Harvard University in 1953 where he continued his studies as a doctoral candidate until he joined the Cleveland Museum of Art staff in 1959 as assistant curator of Chinese art. A notable scholar and historian, Ho is remembered for his great attention to detail and specialization in the areas of Chinese painting and Buddhist art of China and Japan.

At the time of his employment at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Sherman Lee was the museum director and the two often worked together on research trips, exhibitions, publications, and acquisitions. In a 1981 Cleveland Press article, Lee described Ho as a “thorough” and “painstaking” scholar who never shied away from a challenge or new piece of information. Also known for his casual attitude regarding attendance at meetings and deadlines, he often began his workday at 5pm and did not depart the Museum until the early morning hours. Alongside the museum’s renown Asian art collection he helped to develop, he also helped grow the museum library’s holdings of Chinese publications into a formidable research collection.

Ho helped develop important exhibitions including "Chinese Art Under the Mongols," (1968) which highlighted the Yuan Dynasty and "Eight Dynasties of Chinese Painting" (1981) in partnership with the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City.

Ho's career at the Cleveland Museum of Art concluded in 1983 when he became the Laurence Sickman curator of Chinese art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, a post he held until his retirement in 1994.

Ho died on December 28, 2004 in Shanghai, China, where he was visiting as a guest curator at the Shanghai Museum.

Occupations

Places

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Cleveland Museum of Art Asian Art department records.

 Collection
Identifier: 1111.138
Scope and Contents note This collection spans from approximately the appointment of Sherman E. Lee in 1952 to about Stanislaw J. Czuma’s retirement in 2005. It is almost equally divided amongst its series: Exhibitions, Dealers Files, Correspondence, Loans, and Subject Files. Though numerous curators served during this timeframe, the majority of materials originate from Michael R. Cunningham and Stanislaw J. Czuma, circa 1975-2003. Additional material about the Oriental Department can be found in the administrative...
Dates: Majority of material found within Bulk, 1975-2003; 1952-2005
Found in: Cleveland Museum of Art Archives / Cleveland Museum of Art Asian Art department records.

Oriental Art - Wai-Kam Ho, 1958-1983

 File — Box: 87, Folder: 10
Scope and Contents note From the Sub-Series: This subseries contains memoranda, correspondence, and notes between the director and museum departments. The records are organized alphabetically by the department's name at the time the records were created. Departmental name changes can be followed by referring to the appendix. Within each folder the records are organized chronologically. Departmental names do not represent organizational hierarchy, but rather reflect their relative importance to Sherman Lee. He was primarily interested...
Dates: 1958-1983
Found in: Cleveland Museum of Art Archives / 1111.002, Records of the Director's Office: Sherman E. Lee, 1958-1983 / Administrative Records / Departmental Files

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