Venue
Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art Hamilton College
Address
198 College Hill Road Clinton, NY 13323
T: Tel: 315-859-4396
W: http://www.hamilton.edu
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Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art Hamilton College

This museum is named for Ruth and Elmer Wellin, parents of Keith Wellin, class of 1950, who, along with his devoted wife Wendy, provided leadership funding for the building. Their gift honors a family passion for art. Elmer, who supported himself through school as an artist, returned to painting later in life and opened an art gallery in Chicago.

 

Inspired by his father’s passion, Keith Wellin majored in English literature at Hamilton, while also taking advantage of courses in the arts. He earned an MBA at Harvard University and enjoyed a successful career on Wall Street, serving as president and vice chairman of E.F. Hutton, president of Reynolds Securities, and then chairman of Dean Witter InterCapital and vice chairman of Dean Witter Reynolds. He also served as chairman of Moorco International, a Houston-based energy equipment company.

 

Along the way, Keith built what he described as an eclectic collection of art, comprising only pieces he loved. He has served on the Hamilton Board of Trustees for more than forty years, including as chairman of the Investment Committee from 1988 to 1992. Throughout the years, the Wellins lent paintings by well-known American artists for exhibition at Hamilton. Their generosity in honor of Keith’s parents provides a new place and opportunity to inspire the love of art in future generations of students.

 

Hamilton’s impact on me in terms of art and the art world, drama and the fine arts, was such an important part of my liberal arts education. To get that kind of exposure, to a teaching faculty, gallery, theater — that was an eye-opener for me.

 

— Keith Wellin, Class of 1950