DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum
Encyclopedia
DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum also known as the DeWitt Wallace Gallery is located in Williamsburg, Virginia
and is one of Colonial Williamsburg
's attractions. It is named for DeWitt Wallace
(1889-1981), who was co founder of Reader's Digest
magazine with his wife Lila (1889-1984). After enjoying the restored colonial capital for over 50 years as visitors, the Wallaces became major benefactors of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation late in their lives.
, and Bassett Hall
.
At the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, the Hennage Auditorium is utilized to offer lectures and musical performances. The museum is located adjacent to the Public Hospital of 1773, which commemorates the first mental health
facility in the Colony of Virginia, soon to become the United States
.
The work of the Public Hospital continues at the Commonwealth of Virginia's Eastern State Hospital, now located nearby in James City County
just outside Williamsburg.
For relaxation, the Wallaces had been regular visitors to Colonial Williamsburg for over 50 years when they became involved as major financial supporters late in their lives as part of their philanthropic
efforts. Also from New York, their generosity closely followed the enormousness of that of the Rockefeller family
. After they died in 1981 and 1984, respectively, the new museum opened in 1985.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
and is one of Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
's attractions. It is named for DeWitt Wallace
DeWitt Wallace
DeWitt Wallace , also known as William Roy was a United States magazine publisher. He co-founded Reader's Digest with his wife Lila Wallace and published the first issue in 1922.Born in St...
(1889-1981), who was co founder of Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
magazine with his wife Lila (1889-1984). After enjoying the restored colonial capital for over 50 years as visitors, the Wallaces became major benefactors of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation late in their lives.
Collection and facilities
The museum features an extensive collection of American and British antiques. Included are furniture, metals, ceramics, glass, paintings, prints, firearms,and textiles from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The collections join other Williamsburg offerings of art and antiques displayed at dozens of historic buildings, as well as the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art MuseumAbby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum
The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum is a museum located in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. Initially based on donations from Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, it was founded in 1957 and then subsequently expanded to contain a much higher number of objects of folk art...
, and Bassett Hall
Bassett Hall
Bassett Hall is an 18th-century farmhouse located in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was the home of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and his wife Abby Aldrich Rockefeller during the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.-Early history:...
.
At the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, the Hennage Auditorium is utilized to offer lectures and musical performances. The museum is located adjacent to the Public Hospital of 1773, which commemorates the first mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
facility in the Colony of Virginia, soon to become the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The work of the Public Hospital continues at the Commonwealth of Virginia's Eastern State Hospital, now located nearby in James City County
James City County, Virginia
James City County is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. Its population was 67,009 , and it is often associated with Williamsburg, an independent city, and Jamestown which is within the...
just outside Williamsburg.
DeWitt and Lila Wallace
In 1922, the Wallaces published the first issue of their Reader's Digest, largely a carefully selected compilation of magazine articles of many types. The concept was well-received and soon became one of the most widely circulated periodicals in the world.For relaxation, the Wallaces had been regular visitors to Colonial Williamsburg for over 50 years when they became involved as major financial supporters late in their lives as part of their philanthropic
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
efforts. Also from New York, their generosity closely followed the enormousness of that of the Rockefeller family
Rockefeller family
The Rockefeller family , the Cleveland family of John D. Rockefeller and his brother William Rockefeller , is an American industrial, banking, and political family of German origin that made one of the world's largest private fortunes in the oil business during the late 19th and early 20th...
. After they died in 1981 and 1984, respectively, the new museum opened in 1985.