King, Ralph, 1855-1926

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role

Collector

dates

1855-1926

city

Cleveland

state

OH

other cities

Detroit, MI;

sex

M

historical notes

Ralph Thrall King was a prominent Cleveland businessman and the President of Realty Investment Co., the largest holder of downtown Cleveland real estate at the turn of the century.

He was married to Fanny Tewksbury King of Lexington, Michigan in 1897 (Detroit). King both created the Cleveland Museum of Art's Prints Department and helped organize the Print Club in 1919. He also served as the volunteer curator of the Prints Department from 1919-1921.

Together the Kings donated 870 items to the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA). One of their many gifts was Rodin's “Thinker" (1917.42).
They were also recognized as important early contributors and founders of the Oriental Art Department.

In 1919, Mr. King replaced Mr. Jeptha Wade II as the First Vice President of CMA’s Museum Board of Trustees and also served for a short period as Acting President of the CMA Board of Trustees following Mr. Wade's death and before his own sudden death in March of 1926.

Mrs. Fanny Tewksbury King served on the Advisory Council of the CMA from 1926 until her death in 1949, at which time her daughter Frances King (Mrs. Gilbert) Schafer began serving on the council.

Mrs. Schafer served on the Advisory Council until 1968 and was a board member of Rainbow Hospital, the Visiting Nurse Association, Family Health Association, and Church Home of the Episcopal church.

decades
of activity

1910-1920
1920-1930

updated

03/22/2024 12:09:30

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Archives/Repository	Collection Title	Collection Details
The Cleveland Museum of Art Ingalls Library and Archives	King Family Scrapbooks	see details...
The Cleveland Museum of Art Ingalls Library and Archives	Records of the Director's Office: Frederic Allen Whiting, 1913-1930	see details...
Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200	Frederic Allen Whiting papers, 1916-1965.	see details...
Archives of American Art Victor Building, Suite 2200	Cleveland Print Club records, 1930-1973.	see details...