Since 1961 when Ann and Henry Brunnier gifted their decorative arts collection to Iowa State University, over 600 other private donors have contributed over 30,000 objects to expand the University Museums' permanent collections. The bequest of the Edith D. and Torsten Lagerstrom Collection greatly expanded the areas of European and American decorative arts. Other collections have grown consistently as gifts were made over time, including the W. Allen Perry Collection of Asian Arts, the Iowa Quester Glass Collection and the M. Burton Drexler Collection of English Wedgwood.
It is indisputable that large gifts can catapult a collection's size. However, the University Museums' collections are more commonly enhanced one object at a time from many different donors. These objects are collected, cared for and interpreted for the cultural and educational benefit of the University Museums' audiences. Collectors, and subsequently donors, understand and appreciate the historic and aesthetic value of objects as teaching tools—so much so, they are compelled to give them away. These objects add scholarship and context to an already existing collection, and each gift improves the University Museums as a center for visual literacy and learning.
The growth of the permanent collection has fluctuated considerably from year to year, with some years accessioning fewer than 25 objects, and at times when a major estate was received more than 1,000 objects have be accessioned. Please enjoy the Collection's Highlights page, with a summary of each collecting area and images of select pivotal works of art or decorative art objects from those collections.
If you would like more infomation on donating an object or work of art to the collection, please see the Donating a Work of Art page or contact me directly at 515.294.3342 or aclone@iastate.edu. .
A Collection Handbook is available for purchse. Additional Information.
NEW! See the article on Lost & Found Art
