Dempsey, James Howard, Jr. (1916-2010)
Dates
- Existence: 1916 - 2010
Biography
James H. Dempsey, Jr. was the son of the founding partner of one of Cleveland’s most prestigious law firms, Squire, Sanders, and Dempsey. A graduate of Yale and Yale Law School, he joined the firm, specializing in estates and trusts, following distinguished naval service in WWII. He became a member of the board of trustees of the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1964. He served on the executive, finance, and accessions committees and was first vice president from 1972 to 1980 when he was elected president. He served in this capacity until 1985. In 1988 he was elected an honorary trustee, and life trustee in 2001.
During his tenure as board president the museum conducted its first capital campaign for the construction of a wing housing nine galleries and the Ingalls Library. He was particularly interested in American Art and was concerned that the museum add to its American furniture collections, which it did with the acquisition of a spectacular mid-nineteenth century sideboard (1985.72) and Chippendale side chair (1985.58). Other important acquisitions during his tenure as board president include Poussin’s Holy Family on the Steps (1981.18), Alex Katz’s Impala (1983.68), and Noguchi’s rock carvings, Passage of the Seasons (1981.46a-c).