The Genesis of the Collection

In 1966, Barbara Babcock Millhouse, granddaughter of R.J. and Katharine Reynolds, began a bold project to collect American art when the field was still in its infancy. A year later, she installed eight extraordinary paintings in the gracious 1917 bungalow built by her grandparents and opened the house as a museum. Today, the fine art collection includes over two hundred objects, but the original eight remain a testament to Millhouse’s vision and expertise.