ART ON VIEW
FIG. 5 (below):
Leekya Deyuse. (Zuni; New
Mexico, 1889–1966). Fetish
necklace. C. 1935.
Coral, shell, turquoise, jet, cotton
cord, leather. L: 40.6 cm.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art,
Kansas City, Missouri. Gift of Mrs.
David T. Beals, inv. 68-5/12.
Photo: Joshua Ferdinand.
84
art that the new institution would one day house.
His daughter, Laura Nelson Kirkwood, passed away
in 1926 and her estate, combined with those of her
father, mother, and husband, largely went to the development
of the planned museum.
Parallel to Nelson’s plans were those of one-time
school teacher Mary McAfee Atkins (1836–1911),
who had similar aspirations for the foundation of
a public art museum to benefi t Kansas City, infl uenced
largely by her time spent in European travel.
She bequeathed the city approximately one-third of
her million-dollar estate derived from the property
and real estate speculation of her late husband,
James Burris Atkins, to purchase land and found
a public art museum. While generous, the amount
proved insuffi cient to realize this ambition, and the
funds were invested. By 1927, the bequest had more
than doubled, and the decision was made to combine
her funds with those of the Nelsons and create
a world-class institution.
The initial building was designed by architects
Thomas and William Wright, who were also responsible
for a number of other civic buildings in
Kansas City and in the Midwest. The Beaux-Arts
structure was roughly based on the Cleveland Art
Museum, though somewhat larger. Ground was
broken in 1930 and the museum offi cially opened
on December 11, 1933. At the time of its opening, it
was effectively two institutions under one roof, with
the Atkins Museum of Fine Arts in the east wing
FIG. 6 (above right): Tab
bag. Southern Great Lakes,
Ohio River Valley. C. 1800.
Black-dyed native-tanned leather,
porcupine quills, metal cones, deer
hair, dye, silk ribbon. H: 51.4 cm.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art,
Kansas City, Missouri. Purchase: The
Donald D. Jones Fund for American
Indian Art, inv. 2004.17.
Photo: Jamison Miller.
FIG. 7 (right): Roxanne
Swentzell (living at Santa
Clara Pueblo, New Mexico,
b. 1962). Kosa Appreciating
Anything, 1997.
Terracotta, pigment. H: 40.6 cm.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art,
Kansas City, Missouri. Purchase: The
Donald D. Jones Fund for American
Indian Art, inv. 2003.22.
Photo: John Lamberton.