Series 3: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

Scope and content:

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts was the nation's first state art museum. John Garland Pollard was instrumental in its creation and in raising private funds to support it, during his tenure as governor of Virginia, 1930-1934. Upon leaving office he became the president of the museum board. The museum opened to the public in 1936. Violet McDougall Pollard was also interested in the museum, and in 1940 she became Museum Secretary for Membership, and was also in charge of the Extension Division. She soon became the museum's business manager, then co-director for business affairs during the director's absence due to World War II. She was Associate Director until retiring in 1956. After retirement, she continued her association with the museum through various committees, especially in the areas of membership and art education. The series contains correspondence, memos, minutes, and literature about various aspects of the museum's operations, reflecting Violet McDougall Pollard's activities though it is not a complete set of records. Most of the folders are arranged chronologically, but her committee work on art education fellowships is in folders 28:4-5. Museum-related publications are at the end of the series. Additional materials on the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and its programs may be found in Series I, under correspondence folders with artists and museum officials, under various subject folders, and under Federated Arts Council of Richmond.

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Parent restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Collection is stored off-site. Please allow a minimum of 3 business days for retrieval.

Parent terms of access:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

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