Cornell Art Gallery

In 1893, funds were bequeathed to Memorial Hall Library for the purpose of creating a room for the community to view works of art, historical documents and artifacts. Originally known as the Cornell Art and Historical Collection, the retrofitted third floor attic space became a popular destination for townspeople of all ages and was locally called The Cornell Art Gallery. The top-level part of the building where the Gallery existed was removed from the building in the 1926-27 addition and remodel. During the renovation, pictures from the Gallery were loaned out to the Andover Public Schools. In 1927, the Trustees of Memorial Hall Library officially voted to discontinue the Cornell Art Gallery and to distribute its collections throughout the library and to the Andover Public Schools and Town Offices. Original works of art, reproductions and historical objects of interest, were displayed in the gallery. Collection items were loaned out to schools for classroom instruction. When it opened in 1900, librarian Julia E. Twitchell was the Custodian of the Cornell Art Gallery responsible for keeping attendance statistics, maintaining the spaces and making an annual report to the Town of Andover. Ms. Twitchell's position was also referred to as Superintendent of the Cornell Art Collection. Abbie S. Davis took over the role around 1907.

John Cornell was a businessman born in Wilmington, MA in 1830 and died in Andover on December 27, 1892. John Cornell ran a successful business dealing in coal, wood, hay and straw and served as a Trustee of Memorial Hall Library and Spring Grove Cemetery. He was also Director of the Andover National Bank. In addition to providing funds for the art gallery, John Cornell funded an art book collection at Memorial Hall Library, scholarships at Phillips Academy, Abbott Academy and a fuel assistance program for those in need from the Town of Andover.

Photograph of John Cornell from a Massachusetts legislative publication archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/204185

from the Springfield Daily Union January 18, 1892

References
Andover Townsman, January 5, 1900, page 4 for an article on the opening of the gallery.
Framed Daguerreotype of John Cornell, Andover Center for History and Culture catalog # 1938.013.1
John Cornell's obituary, John Cornell's Obituary from the Andover Townsman Dec. 30, 1892, p.4.

Cornell Art Gallery Discontinued, Andover Townsman Sept. 9, 1927

--Tricia (talk) 09:32, 6 March 2023 (EST)
--Stephanie (talk) 17:59, 22 February 2023 (EST)
--Eleanor 14:21, June 16, 2006 (EDT)

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