Munsell Centennial Color Symposium
Bridging Science, Art, & Industry

Describing Color
Albert H. Munsell 1858-1918

By designing a simple, systematic way of describing color using the three attributes of Hue, Value and Chroma, Munsell built a strong bridge between art and science. His color order system has enough structure to allow scientists to expand upon and use it, while being simple enough for artists with no scientific background to use it for selecting and comparing colors. As a result, the Munsell Color System became a standard for color communication across disciplines.

Munsell with his children Margret and A.E.O Munsell

"It may sound strange to say that color has three dimensions, but it is easily proved by the fact that each of them can be measured."   A Color Notation 1905

The Symposium commemorates the 100th anniversary of Munsell's death in June of 1918.

Communicating Color
A. H. Munsell Color Company
1918-Present

The Symposium celebrates the past 100 years of the Munsell Color Company's history since its incorporation in Boston in February of 1918 and marks the 75th anniversary of the Munsell Renotations.  A century later,  The Munsell Book of Color is still the used as a standard reference when communicating color characteristics.

Collection of the Munsell Book of Color

“Defining, Explaining, and Illustrating the Fundamental

 Characteristics of Color.”

Munsell Book of Color 1929

Celebrating the Past

The Munsell Color System has formed the basis for new scientific systems and influenced color research in countless studies. Over the last 100 years, his color order system has been used around the world to teach color and communicate color specifications.

The Symposium will look back at the major milestones in color over the past century and follow the threads of Munsell’s influence from the early 20th century until today.