A group of Wells College alums is urging the closed school to keep valuable historic items in the Finger Lakes instead of selling them off at auction.
Recent court filings show the now-shuttered college in Aurora, NY plans to sell off rare books, art, and off-campus properties—potentially bringing in millions of dollars. But members of the Wells Legacy Society (WLS) say some of those pieces are part of local history and should stay in the community.
“The College aims to sell off chunks of precious local history,” said WLS officer Rachel Snyder of Rochester. “They don’t have to.”
According to the group, the $12.5 million purchase agreement from the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge should be enough to cover the school’s endowment debt, making further sales of certain items unnecessary.
Items tied to local and state history
The WLS is particularly concerned about works by 19th-century sculptor Erastus Dow Palmer. One bas-relief of “Morning” inspired the Wells College seal. Two others feature the family of Edwin B. Morgan, a prominent Aurora native who helped save the college financially, co-founded The New York Times, and served in Congress.
“These items could disappear into private hands,” said Snyder. “They didn’t even tell alums in advance—Christie’s has already sold major pieces,” including a 1704 first edition of Isaac Newton’s Opticks and a large illuminated Book of Hours from the 1400s.
Other works, like stained glass by Ella Condie Lamb honoring Wells College, are being preserved through separate agreements. One such deal with Hobart and William Smith Colleges will keep that artwork in Geneva, NY.
Group says donation is the ethical choice
Court documents show Wells has no creditors and plans to donate any surplus after liquidation to charities. But WLS says the items themselves should be the donation.
“As an educational institution, the college has an ethical obligation to donate items of local historic significance to regional or state museums,” said WLS officer Karen Hindenlang, who lives in Aurora.
The group argues the college’s board still has time to pull key items from auction.
“They can make this right,” Hindenlang said. “These pieces belong close to where that history happened.”
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