KEY TAKEAWAYS: Tulane University received a $2.43 million bequest from alumna Anne Robertson Sellin‘s estate. • The gift creates a permanent endowment supporting pre-1950 art acquisitions and exhibitions. • Funding will expand the Newcomb Art Museum‘s collections and scholarly programm ing. • University leaders say the endowment will strengthen the museum’s cultural impact for future generations.   Tulane University has received a $2.43 million bequest from the estate of alumna Anne Robertson Sellin to support acquisitions and exhibitions at the Newcomb Art Museum, strengthening the institution’s ability to expand its collection of pre-1950 artwork. The gift establishes the Anne Robertson Sellin Endowed Fund, a permanent funding source dedicated to acquiring historical works of art and supporting related exhibitions. University officials said the endowment will enhance the museum’s ability to broaden its holdings and increase access to artwork that previously may have been beyond its reach. Sellin, a 1962 graduate of Newcomb College, earned a degree in art history before later receiving a master’s degree in the field from the University of Pennsylvania. Her bequest reflects a lifelong interest in art, history and preservation, as well as a lasting connection to Tulane and Newcomb College. “This endowment significantly strengthens the museum’s ability to tell a broader and richer story of art and culture prior to 1950 and gives us the rare opportunity to pursue exhibitions and acquisitions that were previously out of reach,” said Maurita N. Poole, executive director and chief curator of the Newcomb Art Museum. University officials said the funding will help preserve and expand the museum’s role as a cultural and academic resource for students, scholars and visitors throughout the Gulf South. After graduating from Newcomb, Sellin moved to Washington, D.C., with her husband, art historian David Sellin. She spent more than four decades involved in historic preservation and civic initiatives, helping secure National Register of Historic Places designations for neighborhoods and landmarks. She also supported preservation efforts in New Hampshire, where she and her husband spent summers. According to Charles Robertson, Sellin’s brother and executor of her estate, she was deliberate in directing her philanthropic support toward the museum’s exhibitions and collecting efforts. “Tulane — and especially Newcomb — meant a great deal to her,” Robertson said. “Her experiences there sparked her lifelong interest in art history, and what better way to commemorate that interest than to establish this endowment in support of the museum’s mission long after she was gone.” Tulane officials noted that Sellin worked with the university’s Office of Gift Planning during her lifetime to document her intentions and ensure the gift would be used according to her wishes. Ginny Wise, Tulane’s senior vice president for advancement, said legacy gifts play a significant role in supporting the university’s long-term priorities. “Legacy gifts like Anne’s are among the most meaningful expressions of commitment to Tulane,” Wise said. “They remind us that alumni and friends can make a lasting impact while also enjoying the satisfaction of seeing their plans take shape.” The Newcomb Art Museum is widely recognized for its collection of Newcomb Pottery, considered one of the nation’s leading collections from the Arts and Crafts movement. The museum also maintains holdings in modern and contemporary art, decorative arts and material culture connected to Newcomb College’s historic role in advancing women’s artistic contributions. University leaders said the new endowment will help ensure the museum continues to expand its collections and scholarship while preserving important works of American art and cultural history for future generations. ...read more read less