THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION

49 WEST 49th STREET, NEW YORK

THE HUMANITIES
DAVID H. STEVENS, DIRECTOR
JOHN MARSHALL, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

May 16, 1941

Dear Miss Drier:

Since I had the pleasure of seeing you on May 13th, we have had an opportunity to talk over your inquiry about the possibility of the Foundation's contributing toward the amount needed to establish the Country Museum of Art in your house at Danbury, Connecticut. From what you told me of the plan and from a reading of the materials which you left with us, I think we are able to appreciate its potentialities. Certainly the idea of a museum for all the arts in so attractive and well located a setting near a number of the more important secondary schools and colleges is an appealing one.

The reply which I now have to give you to your inquiry raises no question as to the merits of the plan but relates rather to our own method of operation. By agreement we as officers are able to present to our trustees only recommendations which fall in certain specified areas. To be sure, we have been able from time to time to recommend grants to museums for various purposes, but the definition of those purposes is such as to make the request you would like to submit for help in establishing this museum outside the limitations of our current program. With that the case, we have no choice but to report our inability to recommend a contribution toward its establishment.

I am sorry that this should be the case and hope that you may be able elsewhere to find the help you need.

Yours sincerely,
John Marshall

Miss Katherine S. Drier
The Haven
West Redding, Connecticut

JM:EA