The Barnett-Aden Gallery opened on October 16, 1943, on the first floor of 127 Randolph Place, NW, a Victorian townhouse shared by Aden and Herring, who were business and life partners.
"[5] From the outset, Alma Thomas, a former student of Herring's at Howard,[5] served as the gallery's vice president and provided funding,[1] as well as Laura Carson and Dr. and Mrs. Cecil Marquez.
[12][1] First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was photographed visiting the Barnett-Aden Gallery in 1944, as she attended the opening of the Candido Portinari show, along with foreign ambassadors, presidential cabinet members, and local dignitaries.
[9][3] The VMFA exhibit features the work of 23 artists, including Richmond Barthé, Elizabeth Catlett, David Driskell, Norman Lewis, Charles White, and Hale Woodruff.
[6][15] In 2017, portions of the Barnett-Aden Collection that were acquired by Margaret and John Gottwald composed the “A Special Kind of Soul” exhibit at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia.