Colleagues

The four paintings taken from the Maier Museum of Art on October 1 for sale at Christies (Nov. 19 and 29) were spared by an injunction from the Circuit Court in Lynchburg, upheld by the Virginia supreme court on Nov. 16. However, that injunction will expire Monday, December 3 unless a $1 million bond is raised to extend it six months. While the immediate threat from fall auctions is past, the Randolph College trustees could still sell the works--privately, for example--if the injunction expires.

A vigorous fund-raising campaign is under way in Lynchburg. $500,000 has been raised thus far (in only two weeks, and during Thanksgiving) and legal efforts are underway to extend the deadline. Students are raising money on campus (one gave her savings from two summers of work). Friends of the Maier and alumnae, faculty, staff, and museum volunteers are giving as well.

The court cases brought by Preserve Educational Choice (the alumnae group organizing the effort) will make new law concerning charitable gifts to non-profits. This, like the situation at Fisk University, is of crucial importance for museums of all types across the nation.

I hope you can participate in our efforts. No gift is too small. And if you choose to help by forwarding this to others, that would be much appreciated.
I have attached below a fund-raising challege keyed to the history of the Bellows' acquisition 87 years ago.