Cornell Art Gallery

John Cornell was businessman who was born in Wilmington, MA in 1830 and died in Andover on December 27, 1892. When he died, he bequeathed funds to Memorial Hall Library for the purpose of creating a room for the community to view works of art. Originally known as the Cornell Art and Historical Collection, the retrofitted third floor attic space was locally called The Cornell Art Gallery. The Gallery was created in a third floor attic space in an area of the Library that was removed from the building in the 1926-27 addition and remodel. 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. 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. 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 collecation at Memorial Hall Library,scholarships at Phillips Academy, Abbott Academy and a fuel assistance 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

• See

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

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

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