Fall 2014 began my career in museum education as a Kress Interpretive Fellow at the Georgia Museum of Art. I am delighted to be in this position not only because I work with people passionate about the positive influence of museum experiences. I am also honored to be a part of an art legacy the Kress Foundation has upheld for the last 86 years. Storytelling plays a big role in the interpretation of art and the artists behind great works. Appropriately enough, the Kress story is one of my favorites.

Samuel H. Kress was best known during his lifetime as a successful American entrepreneur of variety stores. Beginning as a school teacher, he saw a need in smaller, rural towns for general stores. Thus began his venture in business. The five, ten, and twenty-five cent stores thrived, making a great impact on the towns in which they were placed because, usually, these shops were the first of their kind in these areas. Before, people had little choice as to where to get home goods, Kress identified the need and provided the solution with his stores. Mutual benefits were saw from both sides of this a symbiotic relationship, patrons of the stores directly funded the spread of what was to become a national chain.

“to promote the moral, physical, and mental well-being and progress of the human races.”

— Samuel H. Kress

As the his business developed Kress's personal interest and morals played a big part in his success. Now, these stores are listed on the National Register for Historic Places, many restored and preserved. The need we see to keep the architecture in tact pays tribute to the thought placed on the design, buildings whose details have outlived the franchise they once held. The facades don art deco features designed by a team of hired architects. (Can you imagine if this was a concern of modern retail chains?!) Each store was intended to beautify spaces with distinct differences in each outward appearance, yet they were very much the same on the inside.

As the concern for building aesthetics and quality displays, Kress had a great appreciation and eye for art. Art, specifically Italian Renaissance works, were highly prized by him at a time when others did not recognize their value. His 5th Ave. New York apartment is a testament to this love. Note the marble staircase cut from the same Italian marble quarry from which Michelangelo created his masterpieces! In years of collecting, Kress amassed enough pieces to create his own museum. However, after contemplating the idea he thought it best to donate the works to existing art establishments. Thus a 400 painting donation to the National Gallery of Art began the legacy of the foundation.

Kress apartment entrance hall, New York City, 1938/1940Photo courtesy of the National Gallery of Art — Kress apartment entrance hall, New York City, 1938/1940
Photo courtesy of the National Gallery of Art

Art restoration, education, and collection donations continue. In most cities where stores were located, Kress showed his gratitude for their patronage by donating a collection to their local museums. Many of which are housed in learning institutions, such as the Georgia Museum of Art is to the University of Georgia, where students, professors, and conservators of art history conduct research on little known Renaissance works. Today, there are one hundred collections across the country!

Early in my fellowship I had the privilege of meeting the current president of the Kress Foundation, Max Marmor. His encouragement and enthusiasm immediately brought out my own excitement to be a part of the Kress legacy. How can I contribute? Through museum education, of course, which allows me, in my own way, to help people make connections with works of art. Through their generosity, the Kress Foundation has offered me a platform from which I can learn how to do this. One last personal mission will close (or perhaps continue?) this story, I hope to discover and document as many Kress buildings as I can.

Kress Building #1: 15-17 West Church Street, Daytona, Florida

Built: 1935 by architect Edward Sibbert

Visited: Saturday, November 29th, 2014

My Aunt Shirley remembers shopping here as a kid!