1962 | The Vincent Newton Collection
Vincent Newton was a friend of the Millers and the Andrewses and an early supporter of Hancock Shaker Village. Like many collectors whose objects form the foundational collection of the museum, he knew the Shakers personally. He had a summer home in Charlemont, Massachusetts, and often visited Hancock. Newton continued to visit the Village after it became a museum and would often delight the staff and trustees with his personal stories of the Shakers.
The fledgling Shaker Community, Inc. was looking for artifacts to fill their numerous buildings and in 1962 a portion of Newton’s collection became available. A curated selection of objects, many with Hancock provenance, were chosen by Andrews and presented to the trustees for purchase. Upon approval, Andrews rented a truck and retrieved the new acquisitions himself.
Amy Bess Miller heard that Newton was looking to sell two gift drawings from his collection and she inquired about purchasing both. He told her that he had already promised one to the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum so instead she convinced him to let her pick first and selected "A Present from Mother Lucy to Eliza Ann Taylor" by Polly Jane Reed.
Photo: "A Present from Mother Lucy to Eliza Ann Taylor," by Polly Jane Reed. Collection of Hancock Shaker Village.