"Monuments Man" Walter Farmer and the Formation of an Antiquities Collection at Miami University (20 min)

Presenters

Jack Green, Miami University

Abstract

Walter Farmer (1911–1997), was an interior designer and art collector who served as a US Army Captain and a member of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program during World War II. As a “Monuments Man,” Farmer directed the Wiesbaden Central Collecting Point in occupied Germany, safeguarding artworks from German museums and private collections. While serving there, Farmer was instrumental in preparing the “Wiesbaden Manifesto,” a petition that impacted decisions leading to the return of artworks from the United States back to Germany. It can be argued that this action was influential in shaping subsequent US governmental decision-making concerning cultural patrimony in times of conflict and in postconflict settings.

Later in life, Farmer provided inspiration for the creation of the Miami University Art Museum, now the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum (RCCAM). Among other artworks, Farmer donated around 800 ancient objects to the museum. This paper explores Farmer’s collecting practices and attitudes toward ancient artifacts and antiquities through his publications and archival research. Objects donated by Farmer include the “Miami Hydria,” an Attic black-figure vessel likely to have come from an Etruscan necropolis in Italy, as well as a wide range of artifacts from the ancient Middle East and North Africa, the East Mediterranean, and Central America. Artifacts were largely purchased by Farmer on the art market, particularly from the 1950s to 1970s.

This collection is now the basis of a developing biographical and provenance research project at RCCAM. Through such research, it is hoped that new information can be obtained about specific objects in the collection, which in turn can help inform future teaching as well as displays that help to build awareness of the importance of archaeological context, past collecting practices, and the role of provenance research.