Collections
Discover the UM Museum’s collections, representing art and artifacts from many periods and traditions. Browse works on view in the galleries or explore select collections online.
Permanent Museum Collections
The University of Mississippi Museum houses an exceptional range of permanent collections, including the Millington-Barnard Collection of 19th-century Scientific Instruments, the Seymour Collection of American Art, the Southern Folk Art Collections, works by renowned folk artist and Oxonian Theora Hamblett, the historic Mary Buie and Kate Skipwith Collection, and the David M. Robinson Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities. Selections from these collections are always on view in our galleries, and some are now available to explore online.
Discover Our Collections
David M. Robinson Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities
The David M. Robinson Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities is one of the finest university collections of its kind in the United States. Covering the period from 1500 B.C. to 300 A.D., the collection contains Greek and Roman sculpture, Greek decorated pottery, architectural fragments, small artifacts in terracotta and bronze, and Greek and Roman coins. Portions of this collection are on display at all times.
The Seymour Lawrence Collection of American Art
In 1998, editor and publisher Seymour Lawrence gave much of his personal art collection to the museum and funded the construction of the Seymour Lawrence Gallery of American Art. Included in this collection are works by Georgia O’Keefe, Kurt Vonnegut, Man Ray, Russell Chatham, Morris Graves, Marsden Hartley, Mark Tobey, John Marin, Arthur G. Dove, among others.
Millington-Barnard Collection of Scientific Instruments
Step into the 19th century with nearly 500 instruments used to teach physics, astronomy, and natural philosophy. This collection includes telescopes, mechanical models, and demonstration devices from 1848–1861.
Theora Hamblett Collection
Theora Hamblett, a self-taught Mississippi artist who began painting later in life, became renowned for her colorful depictions of childhood memories, dreams, and religious visions; her distinctive, faith-driven works now form a cornerstone of the University of Mississippi Museum’s collection.
Southern Folk Art Collection
This collection highlights Southern folk and self-taught artists who used non-traditional materials to depict familiar scenes of faith, daily life, and the world around them. Created primarily in the late 19th and 20th centuries, these deeply personal works document Southern culture while reflecting how artists often turned to art after hardship, loss, or spiritual calling. Together, the collection preserves powerful expressions of resilience, creativity, and lived experience across the Southeastern United States.
The Mary Buie and Kate Skipwith Collections
The Mary Buie and Kate Skipwith Collection reflects the sisters’ shared passion for art, history, and collecting. It includes decorative arts, European and Asian fans, fine porcelain and silver, Mary Buie’s paintings, and family memorabilia spanning the American Revolutionary War, Civil War, and World War I, forming the foundation of the University of Mississippi Museum’s collections.
Online Collections
Various works from the Museum’s collections are always on view in the galleries. Some collections are also available online.
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