William & Elizabeth Hayden Museum of American Art Paris, Texas

Mailing Address

930 Cardinal Lane
Paris, TX 75460

Street Address

930 Cardinal Lane
Paris, TX 75460

Phone: 903-785-1925
Fax: 903-784-7631

Museum Hours


History

Founded in 1992 by Dr. and Mrs. William Hayden, the museum has as its purpose to exhibit pieces from the private collection so arranged as to gain maximum educational benefit from the display. The thrust of the museum is education, with an emphasis on very close ties to local and regional educational institutions at all levels including college and university. The museum is housed in a newly constructed building at 930 Cardinal Lane, adjacent to the home of Dr. and Mrs. William Hayden. Also included in the museum complex is the Texas House, a restored 100-year old small Victorian house from Paris decorated with Texas antiques and Texas memorabilia, and the main house, with the Louisiana furniture collection, which may be viewed by appointment.

A branch of the museum is located at 8 West Plaza, Paris, and is dedicated to the exhibition and sale of works by Lamar County artists. There are two floors for a total of 3500 square feet. The building has been restored to period 1917 structure.

Artifacts Collections

Louisiana Gallery: 18th and 19th Century Acadian and Louisiana decorative arts in the 784 square foot entrance gallery area. This is housed in a reproduced bousillage room typical of Acadian architecture.

Southwest Gallery: Arts from the Southwest United States, including Native American items. This ranges from archival photography by William Henry Jackson and Carlton Watkins to contemporary artists. The Native American collection includes representations from the Kiowa School, the Dorothy Dunn School, the Bacone College School, and many others. Sculpture, baskets, and Navajo weavings are displayed.

American Art Gallery (2,816 square feet), commencing with Folk Art and proceeding to Modern and Contemporary Art, chronologically collected and arranged with the idea of presentation coinciding with the history of the United States. A sampling includes such artists as Ammi Phillips, Thomas Moran, John Lewis Krimmel, William Sidney Mount, George Caleb Bingham, Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent, John Twatchman, Robert Henri, John Sloan, Walk Kuhn, Thomas Hart Benton, Arthur Dove, Robert Natkin, Robert Rauschenberg. Archival photography including examples by Clarence White, Gertrude Kasebier, Edward Steichen, Alfred Steiglitz, Paul Strand, Lewis Hine, Ansel Adams, Jerry Usellman, and others. The collection of American chairs ranges from the Pilgrim period to contemporary designs by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Library and Confederate Gallery (784 square feet): Library consisting of approximately 200 volumes on American art, complete runs of Antiques Magazine from 1965, and other periodicals and catalogues collected throughout the years. Archival photography from the period of the War Between the States including daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, Carte-de-visites, and original photographs by Matthew Brady, including the last photograph made of Lee in his uniform still in the original Brady mount. Weapons from the war are also present.

Changing gallery (816 square feet): This gallery has carpeted walls to facilitate the changing of exhibitions. Various other selections from the permanent collecting are changed in this area.

Library

Open to general public, students, scholars; approximately 200 volumes on American art, complete runs of Antiques Magazine from 1965, and other periodicals and catalogues collected throughout the years; does not circulate print materials; appointment necessary. The library is not catalogued. There would be no objection to loans properly administered.

The museum has not dealt with rights and reproductions issues. The cost of such duplication fees as determined locally would be charged.

Publications

There is a guide to the American Art Collection written by Dr. Hayden, which also includes a syllabus on the History of American Art. Most of the paintings, chairs, and photographs are included in the guide. There also is information on the Southwest Gallery and the Louisiana Gallery in a dispensable binder. A movable cart in the main gallery has detailed information about each painting and may be used by visitors.

Facilities

6,334 square feet total (not counting the Texas House and the Main House); 5,872 square feet exhibition area; three gallery halls (capacity: 30, 55, 70 people respectively) are equipped for lectures including screens, projection accommodations and projectors, and videotape; wheelchair- accessible with the exception of one second level gallery.

Programs

The History of American Art Course sponsored by the museum is part of the Continuing Education Curriculum of Paris Junior College. Lectures and gallery tours are made for the Art Appreciation, Fine Arts classes, and Humanities and American Literature classes at the Paris Junior College. Tours are given regularly on an appointment basis for as many as one person and for more than a hundred on more than one occasion. The museum brings in lecturers and interested persons of national recognation.

There are no educational materials available other than the syllabus used in the course on the History of American Art. There is no restriction on duplication of this work. There are no fees involved in borrowing educational materials, except for mailing expense.

Staff

William deG. Hayden


Museum Type

Art

Governance

Type: 501 (c) (3), private organization


Click here to provide additional information or report incorrect data on this page.

By accessing the MuseumsUSA site, a user agrees not to redistribute the information found therein.

Museum Info courtesy of Texas Association of Museums.

This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.