Stories From Special Collections:
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The Art Collection BY ANKE VOSS
Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar, Reuben Rice, and Elizabeth Sherman Hoar purchased a portrait of Ralph Waldo Emerson, by Scottish historical painter, David Scott, for the Library, and a special committee of Concord citizens also presented a bust of William Munroe by Thomas Gould. Today, the CFPL is home to a unique art collection that emphasizes Concord, Massachusetts’ history, people, and culture. The William Munroe Special Collections curates over 200 pieces, including sculptures, paintings, and lithographs, from a wide variety of artists Monadnock by Alicia M. Keyes from Concord and beyond. The collection’s focus is works of art with an association to the Town of Concord, whether that is via the subject, donor, or the artist. Works include portraits of Emerson, Thoreau, and Alcott, Plaster sculpture of Simon Brown sculpture, and interpretations of Concord’s physical environment. Curating an art collection involves public The Philosophers’ Camp in the programming but also ongoing maintenance. Adirondacks by William James Recently we contracted with Skylight Stillman is one of the best-known Studios Inc., located in Woburn, to clean works in the art collection of and restore over a dozen plaster busts and the William Munroe Special objects in the Library’s collection. Starting in Collection. Our collection also the late fall of 2020, following an extensive includes many other noted pieces, including In addition to providing access to reading inventory and documentation project, Jim works by Daniel Chester French, N.C. Wyeth, materials, William Munroe also always Coutré Photography photographed the Washington Allston, Edwin Dalton Marchant, Library Corporation’s entire collection onintended for the Library to house works Elizabeth Wentworth of art. Thus, art has had a site. The updated digital images will serve as Roberts, Mary Ogden special place within the CFPL a record of the collection and support future Abbott, Alicia Keyes, since its founding. programming and outreach, on-site and May Alcott Nieriker, and Thanks to the generosity virtually. While over half of the collection is sculptor Louisa Lander. of donors, starting in 1873, on public view throughout the Library, the The collection the Library immediately complete collection is now on view virtually continues to grow, even began taking in pieces of on the Library website. during a pandemic! In art along with manuscripts, On your next visit to the Concord Free 2021, Special Collections Public Library, be sure to take some time to ephemera, and books. That received a gift of an year, the Concord Farmer’s enjoy the Library’s art treasures, or visit them exceptional painting by Club donated a bust of the online at concordlibrary.org. an unknown artist of printer, publisher, editor, ————————————————————————— Elizabeth Sherman Hoar writer, and politician Simon Anke Voss is Curator of the William Munroe (1814 - 1878) from the Brown, commissioned from Special Collections at Concord Free Public Elizabeth Sherman Hoar Brooks Hoar family. Daniel Chester French. Library. 54
Discover CONCORD
| Spring 2022
All images © 2020 James E. Coutré
Concord dedicated the Concord Free Public Library (CFPL), located at the intersection of Main Street and Sudbury Road, on Wednesday, October 1, 1873. The Library was founded through the generosity and vision of William Munroe (1806-1877), a Concord native who made a fortune in dry goods and textiles and who provided funds to construct the library building and establish a model for joint public and private funding and governance that continues through today between the Town and the Library Corporation.
