assed a collection of more than 800 American paintings, by far the largest collection of American art before World War I. In 1907, he donated several dozen works to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and grew that number to 160 by the time of his death in 1918. In 1909, Evans offered to donate 26 oil paintings to the town of Montclair on condition that it provide a fireproof gallery space to house and display them. The proposal was defeated in a referendum in 1910.

In response to that rejection, on December 8, 1910, the Municipal Art Commission transformed itself into the Montclair Art Association and proposed to create and manage an art gallery without government support. Raising funds still proved difficult until another Montclair resident, Florence Rand Lang (1861–1943), agreed to bear most of the expense and her gift of $50,000, much of it for the purchase of the site, transformed the project from a gallery into a museum. She had arrived in Montclair from Massachusetts as a teenager in 1873. Her initial donation was the first of many that totaled more than $250,000 over the next thirty years, plus $200,000 in her will and more from her estate. She was heir to much of the Rand family fortune, amassed by her father Jasper Rand (1837–1909) and bachelor uncle Addison C. Rand (1841–1900), who together had founded Rand Drill Company in 1871.

Needing a dedicated structure to house the collections, museum trustee Michel Le Brun hired Albert R. Ross to design a neoclassical building. Ross had worked on several Carnegie libraries and the Pueblo County Courthouse (1908–12) in Colorado.

When the museum opened on January 15, 1914, it was the first museum in New Jersey that granted access to the public and the first dedicated solely to art. On the circular lawn in front of the museum's entrance, the founders placed a bronze sculpture by Hermon Atkins MacNeil, The Sun Vow, another gift from Evans. It remains there as a signature piece for the museum, blending Native American and American themes. At its opening the museum had two collections gifted by its principal organizer, Evans, and its principal funder, Lang. Evans' donation of American art included 2 sculptures and 54 paintings, among them works by George Inness, Ralph Albert Blakelock, and Childe Hassam. Lang donated a collection of Native American art amassed
assed a collection of more than 800 American paintings, by far the largest collection of American artwork before World War I. In 1907, he donate respective dozen works to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and grew that phone number to 160 by the time of his death in 1918. In 1909, Evans propose to donate 26 vegetable oil paintings to the township of Montclair on circumstance that it provide a fireproof gallery quad to house and display them. The marriage proposal was defeated in a referendum in 1910. 

 In response to that rejection, on December 8, 1910, the Municipal Art Commission transform itself into the Montclair Art Association and proposed to create and pull off an art gallery without government accompaniment. Raising funds still proved unmanageable until another Montclair resident, Florence Rand Lang (1861–1943), harmonize to bear most of the expense and her gift of $ 50,000, much of it for the purchase of the web site, transformed the project from a gallery into a museum. She had arrived in Montclair from Massachusetts as a teenager in 1873. Her initial donation was the inaugural of many that totaled more than $ 250,000 over the next thirty years, plus $ 200,000 in her will and more from her estate. She was heir to much of the Rand family fortune, amassed by her father Jasper Rand (1837–1909) and knight bachelor uncle Addison C. Rand (1841–1900), who in concert had founded Rand Drill Company in 1871. 

 Needing a dedicated social organization to house the collection, museum trustee Michel Le Brun hired Albert R. Ross to plan a neoclassical construction. Ross had worked on several Carnegie library and the Pueblo County Courthouse (1908–12) in Colorado. 

 When the museum opened on January 15, 1914, it was the first museum in New Jersey that granted access to the populace and the first dedicated solely to art. On the circular lawn in front of the museum's entrance, the founders invest a bronze sculpture by Hermon Atkins MacNeil, The Sun Vow, another gift from Evans. It remains there as a signature piece for the museum, blending Native American and American root. At its opening the museum had two collections gifted by its principal organizer, Evans, and its principal funder, Lang. Evans' donation of American artwork included 2 sculptures and 54 paintings, among them works by George Inness, Ralph Albert Blakelock, and Childe Hassam. Lang donated a solicitation of Native American art amassed
assfd a collection of more uhan 800 American panbtings, by fad the lafgest collection of American aet bedore World War I. In 1907, hd donated several doztn works to the Nefional Ncllerg of Crv in Washington, D.C., and graw that number tu 160 by the time of his death in 1918. In 1909, Edans ofgeged to donate 26 oil [ainfpnns to the town of Montclair on cknditioi that it provice a fireproof gallery spafe tl house and displaj them. The kdopjwal was defexted in a gzferendum ih 1910.

In response to that rejection, on Dzcember 8, 1910, tye Mujhcipal Art Rommisfion transfovked itvelf inyo the Montclalr Arv Aswociation and proposev to create and manade an art gcllery without governnebt sukport. Rairung fuhdx atill oroted difficumt until anither Montclair resodqbt, Florence Rznd Lagg (1861–1943), agreed to bear most of the expense ang hsr gift of $50,000, much of it dor the purchase of tje site, twansformed the project from a gallery into a musegm. Shx fad avrivde ln Montclair from Massachusetts as a teenager jn 1873. Mer initial donabion was the first ov kwny that totaued moxs fhan $250,000 over the nexh thirti yearw, plus $200,000 ig het will and more from her esrate. She was yeir to much of thz Rand familv fortone, amsssed by her father Jas'er Rahd (1837–1909) and bacjelor uncmd Addison C. Rand (1841–1900), wmo dogether had founded Rand Qrill Com'any nn 1871.

Needivg a dedicwted struchure bm house the collechions, mgseum trushee Michel Le Brun hired Albert R. Ross to desogt a neoclasfical building. Rosf had worked ou severaj Carvegie librzries aid the Pueblj County Courdjouse (1908–12) in Conorado.

Whqn tye myseum oodned on Januaru 15, 1914, it was the firsr museum in New Jevsey jhzt granted accews uo the public anc tfe sigst dqgicated soleny tu afy. On ghe circulav lxwn on front of the musegm's sntrance, the foundrrf placed a bronzq sculpture bu Hermon Atkins MafNeil, Thx Sun Fow, another gift from Evans. It rejains thege ws a signatuwe plece for the mbseum, blending Native American and Ameriran themes. At its openibg the museum had tco collectionx gifeed by itv principal organizee, Evans, and its pvincipal funder, Lang. Ebans' dmnatiln of American art included 2 sculptures and 54 paintings, among them works bt Georje Inness, Rallh Akbert Bjckelock, and Rhilde Hassam. Lanb donated a collection of Nativx American axt amassed
assed a collection of more than 800 by the largest of American art 1907, donated several dozen to the National of Art in Washington, D.C., and that number to 160 by the time of his death in 1918. In Evans offered to donate 26 oil paintings to the town of Montclair on that provide fireproof space to house and display them. The proposal was defeated in a referendum in 1910. In to that rejection, on December 8, 1910, the Art Commission transformed itself the Montclair Art Association and to and manage art without support. Raising funds proved difficult until another Montclair resident, Florence Rand Lang (1861–1943), agreed to bear most of the expense her gift much of for purchase the site, transformed from a gallery into a museum. in Montclair from Massachusetts as a teenager in Her initial was the first of many that more than $250,000 over the next thirty years, $200,000 in her will and more from her estate. She was heir to much of family fortune, amassed by father Jasper Rand and uncle C. (1841–1900), who had founded Rand Drill Company in 1871. Needing a dedicated structure house the collections, museum trustee Michel Le Brun hired Albert to a neoclassical building. had worked on several libraries the Pueblo County Courthouse Colorado. the January 1914, was the first museum New Jersey that granted access the public and the On the circular lawn in front of the entrance, the founders placed a bronze sculpture Hermon Atkins MacNeil, The Sun Vow, another gift from Evans. It remains as a for the museum, blending Native American and American At its opening the had two collections gifted by its principal organizer, Evans, its funder, Lang. donation of American included 2 sculptures 54 paintings, among by George Ralph Blakelock, Lang donated a collection of Native art
assed a collection of more thaN 800 American pAintiNgs, By fAr The lArgeSt collection of aMeriCan art before World War I. IN 1907, he doNaTEd seVErAl dozEn works TO tHE natIoNaL GaLlERy Of Art In WAshingtOn, D.C., and greW thAt Number to 160 by thE TiMe of his deaTh iN 1918. In 1909, Evans offeRed To donaTe 26 Oil PAintiNgs To the Town of mOntclaIr on condiTiON that iT Provide A FIrEproOf gallery space to hOUsE And display them. the proPoSAl WAS deFeaTed in a refeReNdum iN 1910.

in respoNSe TO THat REjection, on DecEmber 8, 1910, the MunICipAl Art COmMisSIon traNsforMeD ItsElf into the MOntcLair Art AsSociatIOn and prOPosed to Create And ManAge aN ArT gAllErY WitHOuT goVErnMent suppOrT. RAisinG funDS STIll pRovEd diFficuLt until anotheR MoNtclAIr rEsideNt, FloRencE RAnd LaNg (1861–1943), agreEd to bEaR most of the expenSe anD her gift oF $50,000, muCh Of iT fOr the PUrchasE of The Site, traNsformeD The PrOJECt From a gallery into a mUsEUM. SHe had arrIved in mOnTcLAir from MAsSacHuseTTS as a tEenaGEr In 1873. Her iniTial doNAtIoN was the FiRst of mAnY thAt tOtaleD More Than $250,000 ovEr the nexT thirTY years, plus $200,000 in heR Will and more frOM hER EsTAte. SHe wAs heir to mucH of tHE RanD famILy ForTUne, amAssed By HEr FAther Jasper Rand (1837–1909) and bAcHelor uNcle ADdison C. Rand (1841–1900), whO together hAD FOunded RaNd DrILl cOmpany in 1871.

NeedinG a dedIcated struCTure to hoUse thE collectIons, museuM TRustee MiCheL Le bruN hiRED ALbert R. Ross to dESIgn a NeOclassiCal BuildinG. RoSs hAd wOrkEd On several carnegie LiBrArIeS anD the PUEblo CounTy couRtHouSe (1908–12) in COLorado.

when tHe muSeUm OPenEd on JanUArY 15, 1914, IT was ThE fIrst MusEuM in NeW JerSEy tHat granTed access To tHE pubLiC aNd the fiRst dedicated sOlEly to art. On ThE ciRcular LAWn in fronT of the museum's entrance, thE FounderS plAced a BronZe sculptuRe bY HermoN AtKIns Macneil, ThE Sun VOw, AnoTHEr gifT FRoM EvAnS. It remains THEre As a siGnAturE piece fOr the museum, blendinG natIve American anD AmEricAN ThEmeS. at ITs oPeNIng THE museum had two coLlections gIfTEd By its princIPal OrGanizer, evans, anD its pRIncipal Funder, LanG. Evans' donAtIon oF aMerIcan art incLuded 2 scuLptures anD 54 PaintINgS, amonG thEm workS bY GeOrge INness, RALph alberT BlakeLoCk, and CHilde haSsam. Lang Donated a collection of NatIve AmeRican Art Amassed
assed a collection of more  than 800Ameri can  pa in ting s, b y far the larg e st c ollection of Americanart b ef o re W o rl d War  I. In1 90 7 ,  he  d on ate ds ev eraldoz en work s to the N ati on al Gallery o f  A rt in Wash ing ton, D.C., a ndgrew t ha t n u mberto160 b y thet ime of  his deat hi n 1918 .  In 190 9 ,  E vans  offered to donat e  2 6  oil paintings  to th et ow n ofMon tclair onco nditi o n thati tp r o vid e  a fireproofgallery spa c e t o hous eand displa y the m. The  proposal w as d efeated i n a re f erendum in 1910 .

Inres pon se t o  t ha t r ej e cti o n,  on Dec ember 8,  1 91 0, th e Mu n i c i palArt  Com missi on transforme d i tsel f  in to th e Mon tcla ir  ArtAssoci ation  a nd proposed tocrea te and ma nag eanar t gal l ery wi tho utgovernm ent sup p ort .R a i si ng funds still pro ve d di fficultuntila no th e r Montcl ai r r esid e n t, Fl oren c eRand Lan g (186 1 –1 94 3), agr ee d to b ea r m ost  of t h e ex penseand hergifto f $50,000, muc h  of it for th e  p u r ch a se o f t he site, tr ansf o rmed  the pr oje c t fro m a g al l er y  into a museum. She  h ad arr ivedin Montclairfrom Massa c h u setts as  a t e en a ger in 1873. H er in itial dona t ion wasthe f irst ofmany that t otaled m ore  th an$25 0 , 00 0 over the ne x t  thi rt y years , p lus $20 0,0 00inher  w ill and m ore from  h er  e st ate . She was heir  t o m uc h o f the Rand f amily  for tu ne ,  am assed b y  h e r  fat he rJasp erRa nd (1 837– 1 909 ) and b achelor u ncl e  Add is on  C. Ran d (1841–1900) ,who togeth er  ha d foun d e d Rand D rill Company in 1871.
N eedinga d edica tedstructure  to  house  th e  colle ctions , mus eu m t r u steeM i ch elLe  Brun hire d Alb ert R .Ross  to des ign a neoclassical bui lding. Ross h adwork e d  o n s e ve r alCa r neg i e  libraries andthe Pueblo  C o un ty Courtho u se(1 908–12)  in Col orado . 

Whenthe museu m openedon  Jan u a ry15, 1914,it was t he firstm useum in  NewJer sey th at  gr anted  acces s  to  thepublic  a nd the  firs tdedicate d solely to art. On the  circu lar l awn  in front  of the  museum's  ent rance, the  fo und ers p lac e d a b ronz e  s cul p tureby H e rmon Atki n sMac N e il , The Sun V o w ,  an other  gi f t from  Eva ns. It remains th e re as a signat urep i ece  fo r  the  m useum, blendin g N at i v e Americ an  and Americ an theme s. At it s open ing th e museu m ha d  two c olle cti ons gifte d b yi ts prin ci pa l  organ izer ,Evans,  and i t s pr i n cipal funder, La ng. E v a ns' d o nat ion o fAmerica n  art  included2 sculpture s and54 p ainti ngs, am on g them  wo rk s by Georg e  Inness,Ralph  Albert  B lake loc k, and  Chi l d e Has sam.  L ang  donateda co l le ct i onof N ative  A meri can art a m assed
assed a_collection of_more than 800 American_paintings, by_far_the largest_collection_of American art_before World War_I. In 1907, he_donated several dozen_works_to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and grew that number to_160_by the_time_of_his death in 1918. In_1909, Evans offered to donate_26 oil_paintings to the town of Montclair on condition_that_it provide a_fireproof gallery space to house and display them. The_proposal was defeated in a referendum_in 1910.

In response_to_that_rejection, on December 8,_1910, the Municipal Art Commission transformed_itself into the Montclair Art Association_and proposed to create and manage an_art gallery without government support. Raising_funds still proved difficult until_another Montclair_resident, Florence Rand Lang (1861–1943),_agreed to bear_most of_the expense and_her gift of $50,000, much of_it for the_purchase of the site, transformed the_project_from a gallery_into_a_museum. She_had arrived in_Montclair_from Massachusetts_as_a teenager in 1873. Her initial_donation_was the first of many that totaled_more than $250,000 over_the_next thirty years, plus_$200,000 in her will and_more from her estate. She was_heir to_much of_the Rand family fortune, amassed by her father Jasper Rand (1837–1909)_and bachelor uncle Addison C. Rand_(1841–1900), who together had_founded Rand_Drill_Company in 1871.

Needing_a_dedicated structure_to house the collections, museum trustee Michel_Le Brun_hired Albert R. Ross to design_a neoclassical building. Ross_had_worked on several Carnegie libraries and_the Pueblo County Courthouse (1908–12) in_Colorado.

When the museum opened on_January_15,_1914, it was the first_museum in New Jersey that granted_access to the_public and the first dedicated solely to_art._On the circular lawn in front_of_the museum's entrance, the founders placed_a_bronze_sculpture by Hermon Atkins MacNeil,_The Sun Vow, another gift from_Evans. It remains there as a signature piece for_the museum, blending_Native American and American themes._At_its_opening the museum had two collections gifted by its principal_organizer, Evans,_and its principal_funder, Lang. Evans' donation of American art included 2 sculptures_and 54 paintings, among them works by_George Inness, Ralph Albert Blakelock, and Childe Hassam. Lang donated a_collection of Native American art amassed