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Originally airing Thursday, May 2, 2019

WRFA’s Jason Sample talks with James Prendergast Library Executive Director Tina Scott and Board President Joni Blackman about the library has been able to cope in 2019, given some recent financial challenges.

The James Prendergast Library

Two pieces of artwork in the Prendergast collection that could be auctioned in the coming months: (Left) “Industry” by French artist Eugene Romain Thirion – painted in 1874, and (Right) “Sleep, Baby, Sleep” by French artist Leon Bazile Perrault, painted in 1884. Both are from a collection of 32 paintings purchased with a $25,000 donation bequeathed to the library by the Prendergast family in the early 1900s.

JAMESTOWN – The James Prendergast Library Board of Trustees has approved a resolution that will move forward the effort to sell its art collection.

During its May board meeting Wednesday, members unanimously agreed to accept an agreement with the state New York State Attorney General’s office, effectively allowing the library to move forward with selling the collection, on the condition the artwork is sold via a reputable auction house.

The Prendergast Library Association Board of Trustees during its May 2017 board meeting.

The board has discussed selling the art collection for the past two years. It’s value is estimated to be $1.2 million to $1.6 million.

Board President Tom Rankin says the board believes that selling the collection could help to bring in much-needed additional revenue.

In 2016 we went out for a vote to see if the taxpayers would support us directly, and that vote failed. Later in the year the city cut their funding for the library by 73 percent. So we really need to increase our revenue. We’ve done a great job cutting expenses over the last year, but we still need to increase our revenue in order to stay open,” Rankin explained to WRFA following the vote. “The proceeds from the sale of the art collection will go into our endowment, so that it will generate incomes for us for many years to come.”

Because the art collection was purchased with money bequeathed to the library on the condition the artwork remain in possession of the library, the issue had to be taken up in Surrogate’s Court and an agreement with the Attorney General’s office was necessary before the library could legally move forward with selling any of the collection. Now that an agreement has been reached, the collection can now go to auction, but Rankin says a timeline of when that may happen is still being worked out.

“We don’t have any offer at this time and we don’t have anything established as a timeline, but through the next couple of months we hope to get that settled and make an announcement regarding that,” Rankin said.

Selling the art collection garnered controversy when it was first proposed in 2015, with a group of residents coming forward calling for the collection to remain in possession of the library, or at the very least to stay in the Jamestown area so it could be appreciated by the community, as was the intent when much of it was first purchased nearly a century ago.

The Prendergast Library art collection has been on display in the Prendergast Library’s Fireplace Room for the past several years.

A couple from Texas with ties to Jamestown donated $60,000 to the library at the end of 2015, in order to delay any possible sale and give the library and community time to try and find a way to keep the collection from going to auction.

Rankin said that while some were upset with the proposed sale of the art collection, no one in the community has yet to come forward with a plan or the necessary resources to keep it from being sold. He did acknowledge an initial proposal to purchase the collection so it can stay in the Chautauqua County area, but with the conditions in the agreement, the library is only allowed to sell the collection through auction.

“I like the collection and have always liked the collection. Our job as board members is to the library and keeping the library open. The collection hanging on the walls isn’t helping in that regard,” Rankin explained. “We need to have this asset work for us and produce money. So in that regard, yes, I’m happy we can do that, though I admit I wish things were a little different. But with the funding cuts we’ve had, and the expenses we have to have, I don’t see any other choice and I don’t think the board does either. It was a unanimous decision.”

The board will likely continue to discuss the sale of the art collection in the coming months. The next library board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 15 at 5:15 p.m.

Although Peter and Holly grew up in two different communities, he in Jamestown, she in Berea, Ohio, their parents instilled in them the importance of doing good for others. While students at University of Miami (Ohio), they met and began dating. On August 24, 1969, they married and returned to the Chautauqua region in the early 1970s.

“My family was always very involved in the community, I was just sort of born into it,” Peter said. “When I moved back to Jamestown (after college) I wanted to do a lot of the things I had seen my father do.”

Like his father, Paul B. Sullivan, Peter became an integral part of the community and used his financial prowess to serve on a number of committees dedicated to capital campaigns. His first experience was with the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s 1978 campaign. Since then, he has been involved with the Jamestown YMCA’s campaign to renovate the building and WCA Hospital’s emergency room campaign.

In addition to fundraising activities, Peter has served as president of Moon Brook Country Club, member of the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, board of directors of the James Prendergast Library Association and more. Currently, he is president of The Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation and is a member of the Jamestown YMCA.

Peter is also credited with bringing the Ice Pick Competition to the Chautauqua Lake Association, and along with Holly, led the renovations of Putt-A-Round Chautauqua, the mini-golf course at Midway State Park.

Growing up in Berea, a suburb of Cleveland, Holly witnessed first hand the impact a person can have in their community.

“My parents taught us, when we were very young, how important it is to get involved,” Holly said.

Since moving to the Chautauqua region, Holly has been involved with the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, WCA Hospital and AAUW Jamestown. In 1984, she was named Woman of the Year by the Jamestown Interclub Council.

More recently, Holly was a founding member and board member of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Center and is currently serving on the National Comedy Center committee. She is also currently a volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocates of Chautauqua County.

“We are very proud to receive this award,” Peter said. “To be recognized as a couple is so special to us. We will never forget it.”

The John D. Hamilton Community Service Award recognizes an individual, or a group, who has demonstrated dedication, leadership, and support in furthering community spirit and enriching the quality of life in the Chautauqua region. This is the fourth time the recipients are a husband and wife.  The first award was presented to John D. Hamilton in 1993.