Ingalls Library and Museum Archives Receives Monumental Gift

Cleveland (September 27, 2024)— The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is excited to announce the major donation of the late Ralph and Terry Kovel research collection to the Ingalls Library and Museum Archives. For more than six decades, the Kovels have been experts in the field of antiques and collectibles, amassing a remarkable and singular library and archive consisting of more than 15,000 volumes and 50 linear feet of research resources and correspondence. This precious trove not only serves as a chronicle of their long careers but also stands as a unique and exquisite compendium that, through the generosity of Terry Kovel, the CMA is privileged to include in the Ingalls Library and make available to the public. This gift follows another extraordinary demonstration of philanthropy in 2022, when she gave James Tissot’s Two Figures at a Door (The Proposal?), which is currently on view at the CMA.

“The Kovel name is synonymous with expertise in the field of antiques and collectibles,” said Leslie Cade, director of the Ingalls Library and Museum Archives. “The significance of this gift is immeasurable and provides the Ingalls Library and museum the opportunity to connect to the large community of collectors who, for more than 60 years, have relied on the Kovel expertise through publications, television shows, newspaper columns, and other media.” 

Significant not only for its extent of books and publications, the collection also includes rare and unique material that adds a new dimension to the CMA’s holdings, including trade catalogs and sales catalogs from Roycroft, Stickley, and others; samples, including wallpaper and fabrics; and significant holdings related to antiques and collectibles, including metalwork, furniture, musical instruments, costumes, jewelry, coins, and other items. The archival material includes correspondence and research files used by the Kovels to prepare their many publications, newspaper columns, and TV shows. 

“I’m thrilled that our carefully curated materials have found a new home at the CMA and are available for future generations of collectors, preserving the legacy and craftsmanship of these remarkable treasures,” said Terry Kovel. “Our publications were born from a deep passion to share our love for antiques and collectibles with our readers. I’m confident that the CMA will continue this legacy with the same care and devotion.” 

The collection is made available to the public on Terry Kovel’s 96th birthday, October 27, 2024.

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About the Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 63,000 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The museum is a significant international forum for exhibitions, scholarship and performing arts and is a leader in digital innovation. One of the leading encyclopedic art museums in the United States, the CMA is recognized for its award-winning open access program—which provides free digital access to images and information about works in the museum’s collection—and free of charge to all. The museum is located in the University Circle neighborhood with two satellite locations on Cleveland’s west side: the Community Arts Center and Transformer Station.

The museum is supported in part by residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture and made possible in part by the Ohio Arts Council (OAC), which receives support from the State of Ohio and the National Endowment for the Arts. The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. For more information about the museum and its holdings, programs, and events, call 888-CMA-0033 or visit cma.org.