Palmer Museum announces landmark bequest of benefactor Barbara Palmer

The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State is honored to be the recipient of nearly 200 works of art as part of the estate of Barbara R. Palmer, longtime benefactor, beloved friend, and champion of the museum, who passed away in January 2019. The bequest of her world-class collection will elevate the already significant national reputation of Penn State’s art museum. “Both Penn State and central Pennsylvania have been immeasurably enriched through Barbara and Jim Palmer’s commitment to the arts and the community, and their legacy will live on through all who experience the Palmers’ collection on our campus,” said Penn State President Eric J. Barron. “The University is deeply honored that Barbara chose to entrust these works to our institution, and we look forward to preserving and sharing this generous gift.” Widely considered one of the finest private collections of American art in the count