Ackland Art Museum.

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The University of North Carolina's first art museum, established in 1937, was located in Person Hall and known as the Person Hall Art Gallery. In 1958 a new building was completed with funds from the bequest of William Hayes Ackland. The museum then moved and was renamed the William Hayes Ackland Memorial Art Center; in 1979 its name changed again, to the Ackland Art Museum. The museum was part of the Dept. of Art, and the department chairman served as its Director, until 1974, when the museum became a separate administrative unit. (The bulk of the museum's pre-1974 records are among the Records of the Department of Art).

From the description of Records of the Ackland Art Museum, 1958-1993 [manuscript]. WorldCat record id: 26707487

The University of North Carolina's first art museum, established in 1937, was located in Person Hall and known as the Person Hall Art Gallery. In 1958, a new building was completed with funds from the bequest of William Hayes Ackland. The museum then moved and was renamed the William Hayes Ackland Memorial Art Center; in 1979 its name changed again, to the Ackland Art Museum. The museum was part of the Department of Art and the department chairman served as its director until 1974, when it became a separate administrative unit.

William Hayes Ackland (1855-1940) was a wealthy, self-styled art collector, who bequeathed funds for a museum to be built at Duke University under the stipulation that his tomb, along with a recumbent effigy of himself, be prominently placed in the foyer. Duke refused the bequest, and the University of North Carolina, citing an earlier will naming the University of North Carolina as Ackland's second choice to receive the museum and Rollins College as his third, successfully argued at inquest that the University at Chapel Hill should receive the funds to build the museum.

  • 1958 - 1978 : Joseph C. Sloane
  • 1978 - 1983 : Evan Turner
  • 1983 - 1986 : Innis Shoemaker
  • 1986 - 1993 : Charles Millard
  • 1994 - 2006 : Gerald D. Bolus
  • 2006 - : Emily Kass

Thanks to the Ackland bequest and to subsequent endowments, the museum has amassed an extensive permanent collection that spans the history of European and American painting, sculpture, photography, and the graphic arts from antiquity to the present day. The collection also includes important examples of Asian and North Carolina folk art and is particularly rich in European drawings and prints. In addition, the museum regularly hosts major traveling exhibitions from the United States and abroad.

From the guide to the Ackland Art Museum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1958-1993, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dept. of Art. Records of the Dept. of Art, 1934-1987. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Ackland Art Museum. Records of the Ackland Art Museum, 1958-1993 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Ackland Art Museum. [Exhibition catalogues and handouts]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Ackland Art Museum. Institutional file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Office of the Associate Provost for Educational and Support Services. Records of the Office of the Associate Provost for Educational and Support Services, 1980-1993 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Oliver Max Gardner Papers (#3613), 1892-1966 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Prouty, William W. William W. Prouty photographic collection, circa 1955-1961. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Office of the Provost. Records of the Office of Provost, 1917-2003 (bulk 1954-2001). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Gardner, Oliver Max, 1882-1947. Oliver Max Gardner papers, 1892-1966. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Ackland Art Museum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1958-1993 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives and Records Service
referencedIn Sloane, Joseph C. Joseph C. Sloane papers, 1909-1998. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Warren, Rebecca Drane. Rebecca Drane Warren papers, 1967-2004. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Role Title Holding Repository
Place Name Admin Code Country
North Carolina
North Carolina--Chapel Hill
Subject
Art
Art
Art in universities and colleges
Art museums
Universities and colleges
Universities and colleges
Education, Higher
Museums
Occupation
Activity

Corporate Body

Active 1958

Active 1993

Americans

English

Information

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