The Charles Burchfield Center was inaugurated on December 9, 1966 in Rockwell Hall at the State University College at Buffalo—and Nancy Jewett championed this budding museum since its earliest years. She was a member of the Charles Burchfield Center Advisory Committee and the Charles Burchfield Center Council when it was started in 1971, serving as Secretary from 1991 to 2001. That was a transitional year for the museum, which had grown exponentially. In 2001, the Burchfield-Penney Art Center incorporated under its own 501(c) (3), so a new Board of Trustees was formed, with Nancy Jewett as Secretary, while she also continued serving as a member of the Council. Following newly established term limits, she rotated off the Board of Trustees in 2003 and returned to the Council as a valued, experienced member, serving for many more years.
In 1989, the Burchfield Art Center inaugurated Esprit de Corps, an annual celebratory event to thank people whose service had been especially generous. In 1995, Nancy Jewett’s dedication to the museum was acknowledged with bestowal of the annual Esprit de Corps Award in the category of Individual. In 1997, she and Harriet Vogelsang received an award for their service on the council and board. As part of her on-going patronage and volunteer service, Nancy hosted many events and meetings in her home and at the Garrett Club, where art exhibitions and presentations were shared with the community. Her generosity extended to other groups she supported, such as the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, where she helped to bring art to public spaces and treatment areas. Art was definitely meaningful to her. As a painter, she was associated with the Oakland Group, comprised of Charlotte Albright, Grace McKendry, Virginia Tillou and Liz Tower. They were all women of attitude, women of verve, women who each struck out in her own direction.
What a kind, warm, gentle and generous woman Nancy was. I have so many fond memories of times spent together. In particular, I remember the special way she smiled; her eyes really did twinkle as she wrinkled up her nose and grinned widely. She was so supportive, but always in a quiet, behind-the-scenes way. Modestly, she did not seek the limelight of recognition. We shared a birthday, so I hold her up as a paragon of public service—a role model for me, and for all of us.
Nancy Weekly
Head of Collections and the Charles Cary Rumsey Curator
Burchfield Penney Art Center