Eugenia Woodward Hitt: Difference between revisions
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Though she first became interested in 18th century French decorative arts as a young woman, most of her collection was assembled after she married [[William Hitt]] in [[1940]] and moved to New York City | Though she first became interested in 18th century French decorative arts as a young woman, most of her collection was assembled after she married [[William Hitt]] in [[1940]] and moved to New York City | ||
At her death, Hitt bequeathed | At her death, Hitt bequeathed the bulk of her collection, valued at over $50 million, to the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]], thereby leaving one of the largest gifts received by an American museum from a single donor. She donated one item, a bronze wall clock, to the Château de Versailles. | ||
A folder of her correspondence is kept as part of the Woodward Family Papers[http://www.lib.ua.edu/content/findingaids/pdf/mss_1577.pdf] at the [[W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library]] at the [[University of Alabama]]. | A folder of her correspondence is kept as part of the Woodward Family Papers[http://www.lib.ua.edu/content/findingaids/pdf/mss_1577.pdf] at the [[W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library]] at the [[University of Alabama]]. | ||
Revision as of 16:42, 21 July 2010
Eugenia Woodward Hitt (born 1905 in Birmingham; died 1990) was a notable collector of 18th century French furniture, decorative items and artworks.
Eugenia was one of five children of Rick Woodward and the former Annie Jemison, and a granddaughter of Joseph Woodward, founder of the Woodward Iron Company.
Though she first became interested in 18th century French decorative arts as a young woman, most of her collection was assembled after she married William Hitt in 1940 and moved to New York City
At her death, Hitt bequeathed the bulk of her collection, valued at over $50 million, to the Birmingham Museum of Art, thereby leaving one of the largest gifts received by an American museum from a single donor. She donated one item, a bronze wall clock, to the Château de Versailles.
A folder of her correspondence is kept as part of the Woodward Family Papers[1] at the W. S. Hoole Special Collections Library at the University of Alabama.
References
- "Mrs. J. H. Woodward pioneer resident of City dies Sunday" (date not indicated) Birmingham News - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
- Forschler-Tarrasch, Anne (n.d) "The Hitt Collection of 18th Century French Art." Gallery Guide. Birmingham Museum of Art.