National Museum of American Illustration

The National Museum of American Illustration (NMAI) was founded in 1998 by Judy Goffman Cutler and Laurence S. Cutler, to house their art collection primarily from the 'Golden Age of American Illustration,' but comparing and exhibiting illustration from all periods, styles and kinds. The Museum venue is Vernon Court (1898), a French chateau mansion from the 'Gilded Age,' designed by Carrére & Hastings, architects of many notable landmark buildings such as the NY Public Library, the US Senate Office Buildings, Lord Duveen's New York Galleries, the Neue Gallery, The Flagler Museum, and The Frick Collection. The three acre grounds were inspired by Henry VIII's gardens built for his ill-fated Queen, Anne Boleyn at Hampton Court Palace. An adjacent three acres known as 'Stonearce' was designed by the first American landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, it has been restored and revitalized into The Frederick Law Olmsted Park, and in the future a Memorial Arch designed by and in honor of Louis I. Kahn, America's greatest architect of the last half of the 20th century. The Arch is currently on hold as our non-profit organization seeks sponsors and donors who will support this effort. Vision: The NMAI, a private, nonprofit organization, is an independent, educational, and aesthetic organization with the goal to present the best venue for the public to appreciate the greatest collection of illustration art. Collection: The NMAI restores, conserves, researches provenance, exhibits and interprets its unique collection of original art works in order to preserve this rich and significant part of our American heritage. These art works include many of the milestone pieces created by artist/illustrators such as Norman Rockwell, Maxfield Parrish, Charles Dana Gibson, Howard Pyle ('Father of American Illustration'), NC Wyeth, Jessie Willcox Smith, JC Leyendecker, Violet Oakley, and other Illuminaries. The works were originally created to be reproduced in magazines and newspapers, as posters, in advertisements, on products (fine art prints, greeting cards, and the like), and in books. In addition to their technical execution, their creativity, the context in which they were created, and the purpose of their commission, they remain a poignant bookmark of our shared history, our American civilization. With an ever-increasing recognition of illustration as a meaningful part of the fine arts spectrum, these works have earned a lofty role in art history. Giving Opportunities: Gifts to the Museum (through our nonprofit organization: the American Civilization Foundation) may be made in cash, securities, art, real estate, and other forms of personal property. Naming and memorial giving opportunities are available. Gifts may be made as unrestricted or alternatively, they may be directed to specific needs of the Museum or to satisfy the goals of the donor. Additionally, deferred giving options are available which may provide significant income and tax benefits to donor(s). Giving Options: Donors may underwrite exhibitions, name public spaces and/or exhibition galleries, they may contribute to the endowment or they may simply endow staff positions, sponsor openings, underwrite and support educational programming or sponsor special events. The National Museum of American Illustration will host several high profile exhibitions featuring Norman Rockwell:'A Star on our Flag,' 'The Great American Illustrators' (a traveling exhibition to the People's Republic of China originating at the Shanghai Art Museum), and 'Maxfield Parrish's Magnum Opus'-all of which currently seek support and funding. Future Goals: To expose American illustration internationally at major Museum venues to enlighten the world community to the significance of these artist/illustrators who contributed to American culture so meaningfully.