One of the oldest academic museums in the U.S., located at one of the nation’s first colleges to offer a baccalaureate degree in the history of art, the Davis Museum collections represent a foundational emphasis on the importance of direct experience with authentic art objects that remains vital. Today, the Davis holdings include nearly 13,000 objects, with areas of strength in painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, and decorative objects, from antiquity to the present day.

The Davis actively collects works of art through gifts and purchases that are responsive to our mission, that demonstrate excellence and diversity, art historical and aesthetic significance, and relevance to curricular emphases and research interests. The strategic development and vitality of the collections are major priorities, as are the responsibilities of stewardship for posterity.