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In Honor of America 250 Ohio: Joseph G. Butler, Jr. Collections of Our Nation Exhibit

Jan 30, 2026 | Exhibition

In Honor of America 250 Ohio: Joseph G. Butler, Jr. Collections of Our Nation Exhibit

In 2026, the Declaration of Independence celebrates its two hundred and fiftieth anniversary. America 250 looks beyond founding documents to examine another powerful expression of American identity: art. Revisiting the museum’s inaugural 1919 collection, America 250 considers how the first exclusively American art museum defined what it meant to be “American.” 

To understand founder Joseph G. Butler, Jr. as a collector, the exhibition begins by reconstructing his life and networks. Archival materials—from an elegant childhood portrait to correspondence from the White House—trace Mr. Butler’s movement within elite political and cultural circles. For Mr. Butler, a confidant of presidents, art offered a means of asserting America’s position on the global stage. 

The exhibition then turns to the works Mr. Butler selected for his inaugural display. Many of the artists he championed were immigrants, and many of their subjects lie beyond American borders. Paintings range from Shakespearean figures to coastal seascapes abroad, underscoring how Mr. Butler envisioned American art as part of an international conversation. 

Each artwork Mr. Butler chose advanced a claim about what American art could be. Installed throughout the museum, the America 250 works form a visual trail through time, inviting visitors to retrace Mr. Butler’s landmark 1919 exhibition.

Begin the hunt here in Bacon Hall, then continue across Cushwa, Watson, Lloyd, Adler, Lipscher, and Ford Galleries to find all thirty-three works. Look out for blue tags and the America 250 seal.

Exhibit Details and Special Events: 

January 25, 2025 – December 19, 2026

Special Event: March 26, 2026

Exhibit Reception and Panel Discussion: America 250: The Art, Culture, and History of Joseph G. Butler, Jr. 

  • 5:30pm refreshments in Beecher Court 
  • 6pm to 7pm panel discussion in Zona Auditorium 
  • Larry Jones, Interim Director, moderator for the event.

Panelists: Joe Lambert, Mr. Paul Rohrbaugh, Dante Bernard (Museum Educator – Mahoning Valley Historical Society), Traci Manning (Curator of Education – Mahoning Valley Historical Society).

Featured art pieces celebrating the America 250 initiative at The Butler Institute of American Art:

  • Portrait of J.G. Butler, Jr. By Ivan Gregorovitch Olinsky, 1920 
  • Did You Speak to Me?  William Merritt Chase, 1897 
  • Silvery Waters, Franklin De Haven, 1916 
  • By the Drovers Inn, George Glenn Newell, 1917 
  • Ration Day at the Reservation, Joseph Henry Sharp, 1919
Ivan Gregorovitch Olinsky, Portrait of J.G. Butler, Jr.,” 1920, Oil on canvas mounted on board, Gift of Jonathan Warner 1920. Painting conserved by Mr. and Mrs. James Miller. Located in the Bacon Hall Gallery, first level.

Ivan Gregorovitch Olinsky, Portrait of J.G. Butler, Jr., 1920, Oil on canvas mounted on board, Gift of Jonathan Warner 1920. Painting conserved by Mr. and Mrs. James Miller. 

Located in the Bacon Hall Gallery, first level.

William Merritt Chase, Did You Speak to Me?, 1897, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1921. Located in the Watson Gallery, first level.

William Merritt Chase, Did You Speak to Me?, 1897, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1921. 

Located in the Watson Gallery, first level.

Franklin De Haven, Silvery Waters, 1916, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1918. Located in the Cushwa Gallery, first level.

Franklin De Haven, Silvery Waters, 1916, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1918. 

Located in the Cushwa Gallery, first level.

George Glenn Newell, By the Drovers Inn, 1917, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1917. Adopted in memory of William Gladys Jones by Roger and Gloria Jones, 2006. Located in the Cushwa Gallery, first level.

George Glenn Newell, By the Drovers Inn, 1917, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1917. Adopted in memory of William Gladys Jones by Roger and Gloria Jones, 2006.

Located in the Cushwa Gallery, first level.

Joseph Henry Sharp, Ration Day at the Reservation, 1919, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1921. Located in the Adler Gallery, second level.

Joseph Henry Sharp, Ration Day at the Reservation, 1919, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase 1921.

Located in the Adler Gallery, second level.

America 250 Yearlong Events and Programs at The Butler Institute of American Art 

This year at the Butler, our programming will proudly embrace many elements of the America 250 celebration, highlighting works from the museum’s earliest years and reflecting on our rich artistic legacy. Throughout the year, you’ll see special program notes tied to these offerings as we celebrate this historic milestone together. 

  • Senior Art & Learn 
  • Stroller Art 
  • Family Days 
  • Young Friends Adventure 

Known as “America’s Museum,” the Butler has been celebrating the nation’s visual arts heritage since its founding in 1919. As part of the America 250 celebration, this year’s programming highlights works from the museum’s earliest years, connecting today’s visitors with the art and stories that helped shape America’s creative legacy. Featuring one of the country’s most admired collections, the Butler invites you to experience these historic works up close.  
 
Visit this year and be part of the celebration.