John S. VanGilder—Art Collection

John Somers VanGilder, class of 1912, a wealthy philanthropist who, for many years, lived at New York’s Plaza Hotel, gave UT a valuable collection of art objects and historical items in 1956. Possibly the most valuable single object was an oil portrait of Charles Kemble, painted by George H. Harlow (1787–1819). Kemble was an eminent English Shakespearean actor who toured America at the beginning of the nineteenth century. VanGilder also donated portraits of Frank H. McClung and his wife, Eliza A. Mills McClung, and an oil painting of Mount LeConte by Charles C. Krutch. Statuettes (the head of Nefertiti and a German porcelain of Kin Yin), crystal, silver pieces, historical maps, and books were among the items donated. An extensive playbill collection that he donated is in the UT Libraries’ Special Collections.