GLENS FALLS, N.Y. — The daughters of Samuel and Eliza Jane Pruyn grew up surrounded by the effects of their father’s generosity and admiring his philanthropic spirit. Mr. Pruyn, the founder of Finch Paper, made significant contributions to the community in education, creation of a water system, and improved housing. The Pruyn daughters, Charlotte Pruyn Hyde (1867-1963), Nell Pruyn Cunningham (1876-1962), and Mary Pruyn Hoopes (1870-1952), stayed close throughout their lives, pursuing their love of the arts and carrying on their family’s legacy of giving.

The Hyde Collection, founded on Mrs. Hyde’s dedication to enriching lives with her art collection, has for years benefited from the Pruyn family descendants’ generosity and support. The Museum is proud to announce the Hoopes family has donated $50,000 to kick-start contributions to the annual gala, The Hyde’s biggest fundraising event of the year.

“The Hyde Collection is built on a foundation of giving,” said Kam Hoopes, Mary Hoopes’ great-grandson, on behalf of the family. “A legacy of philanthropy and passion for the arts have long supported the Museum and kept the spirit of the Pruyn sisters alive.”

This year, The Hyde Collection’s Annual Gala, Celebrating Our Shared Legacy, is centered on the rich history of the Museum and its founding family, and our nation’s artistic identity. The Friday, October 6, gala is in honor of former Director Erin Coe and special guest Barbara L. Gordon, whose collection is featured in A Shared Legacy: Folk Art in America. Donations and sponsorships support The Hyde in developing its exceptional education programs and exhibitions, and in caring for its collection.

Mr. Hoopes hopes that his family’s gift will inspire others to donate to the Museum, which has a world-class collection of European and American art that span eight centuries, offers seven major exhibitions a year in its five galleries, serves more than 5,000 children annually, and offers regular community programming. “We want this gala to deliver strong financial support for the Museum and its efforts, to secure its ability to enrich lives through the arts, and to continue to serve as an economic driver to the area’s economy,” said Anne Saile, interim director of the Museum.

TO DONATE, contact Director of External Affairs Tawn Malison at 518-792-1761 ext. 328 or [email protected], or visit https://www.hydecollection.org/donations.

What is The Hyde?

The Hyde Collection is one of the Northeast’s exceptional small art museums with distinguished collections of European and American art, and Modern and Contemporary art. Its permanent collection of nearly 4,000 works spans centuries and consists of paintings, drawings, graphics, sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts. The core collection, acquired by Museum founders Louis and Charlotte Hyde, includes works by such artists as Sandro Botticelli, El Greco, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Edgar Degas, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and American artists Thomas Eakins, Childe Hassam, Winslow Homer, and James McNeill Whistler. The Museum’s collection of Modern and Contemporary art features works by artists including Josef Albers, Dorothy Dehner, Sam Gilliam, Adolph Gottlieb, Grace Hartigan, Ellsworth Kelly, Sol LeWitt, George McNeil, Robert Motherwell, Ben Nicholson, Robert Rauschenberg, and Bridget Riley. The Hyde Collection presents changing exhibitions in its five galleries, as well as lectures, cultural events, family activities, and school programming in its modern museum complex and historic house at 161 Warren St., Glens Falls.

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