James F. Ballard

James Franklin Ballard (July 16, 1851 - April 23, 1931) was an American entrepreneur and art collector specializing in rugs from Asia and the Middle East, and medieval prints by such artists as Albrecht Dürer.Shoemaker Page 617-619] During his lifetime his art collection achieved national fame among art critics and collectors.Greater St. Louis (11-1921)]

Art Collection

Ballard traveled the world in search of art to buy, but most especially rugs. He started collecting rugs in 1905Saint Louis Art Museum Archives [http://www.slrlc.org:80/record=b1052675] ] He traveled over 470,000 miles through Southeast Asia,New York Herald (1927-03-13)] China, the Caucasus Mountains, India, Northern Africa, the Middle East, and all over Europe.The John Herron Art Institute Page v-vii] His travels found him in Egypt during the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. He was briefly imprisoned by the Greek government, and witnessed the Great Fire of Smyrna (now Izmir). [Derrough, Peggy, (1922-11-28)]

The earliest of Ballard’s rugs are from the 10th century. In 1922 Ballard presented to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, a collection of 126 oriental rugs that at the time was valued at half a million dollars. [New York Evening World] Later he brought an additional two rugs, one of which featured the coat of arms of Tamerlane, the founder of the Timurid Empire. [St. Louis Daily Globe-Democrat (1922-10-26)] He also gave a substantial collection of rugs to the Saint Louis Art Museum.

Biography

Ballard was born in Ashtabula, Ohio to James Ballard and Eliza (Heath) Ballard. His parents owned a large tract of timber land in northern Michigan near Lapere.

Career

Despite the fact that his father had ample money from his timber farm, the younger Ballard chose to join the circus and travel the country at a young age. Later he started drug stores around the country and settled in Saint Louis, Missouri. While in Saint Louis, he became involved with the wholesale drug store chain, Richardson & Company.

In 1882 Ballard withdrew from Richardson & Company, and started his own business again, the Ballard Snow Liniment Company. This company manufactured one of the most widely advertised and distributed proprietary remedies of the time. It was the sales of this medicine that his fortune was made. After 1923 his business was called James F. Ballard Incorporated of which he was the chief owner, and in later years the treasurer. Besides Ballard's Snow Liniment, he also sold: Swain's Panacea, White's Cream Vermifuge, Smith's Bile Beans, Ozmanlis Nerve Pills, and Littell's Liquid Sulphur, all of which were advertised in his self-published book: "Ballard's Book of the Great War" [Ballard, James F. Page 2]

Ballard also owned the Henry B. Platte company of New York. He was the director of the Mechanics-American National Bank, and of its successor, the First National Bank & Union Trust Company of Saint Louis.

Memberships

* The National Academy of Design in New York
* The Congressional Country Club in Washington, D.C.
* The [http://www.mohistory.org/content/LibraryAndResearch/lRCGeneralInfo.aspx Missouri Historical Society] in Saint Louis
* The [http://www.gslas.org Saint Louis Archaeological Society]
* The Saint Louis Club
* The Bankers Club of New York
* The [http://www.salmagundi.org Salmagundi Club] of New York
* The [http://www.econclubny.com Economic Club] of New York
* The Lotus Club of New York

The personal papers of James F. Ballard are housed in the archives of the Saint Louis Art Museum. One can view a description of their contents at this link. [http://www.slrlc.org:80/record=b1052675] They are available to researchers by appointment.

Footnotes

References

Ballard, James F. "Ballard's Book of the Great War; Containing Many Historical Effects Pertaining to the Great Struggle", Self-published by James F. Ballard, St. Louis, MO

Ballard, James F. (1916-9-16), Catalogue of Antique Oriental Rugs; Collection of James F. Ballard, Self-published by James F. Ballard, St. Louis, MO

Greater St. Louis (11-1921), "Hobby of Collecting Antique Rugs Brings Honor to St. Louisan"

John Herron Art Institute 1924, Ballard Collection of Oriental Rugs, Self-Published by James F. Ballard

The New York Evening World 1922-5-22, "James Ballard gives $500,000 worth of rare rugs to the Metropolitan Museum "

The New York Herald (1927-3-13), "Rug Collector Who has Covered 460,000 Miles Likes Egypt Best"

Derrough, Peggy (1922-11-28), "$500,000 Rug Collection Now at Art Institute; Gathered by J. F. Ballard, Who Traveled 275,000 Miles in Searches", Chicago Evening Post

Saint Louis Art Museum 1982, Archival Record for James F. Ballard ( [http://www.slrlc.org:80/record=b1052675] ). Retrieved on 2007-7-6

St. Louis Globe-Democrat (1922-10-26), "Ballard Saw Burning of Smyrna, Risked Life in Quest for Rare Rugs; Made War Prisoner by Greeks in Hotel Bombarded by Turks, St. Louisan Brings Back Priceless Objects He Has Sought for 17 Years"

St. Louis Post Dispatch (1922-11-22), "$5000 Oil Painting Given to the City Art Museum"

Shoemaker, Floyd Calvin LL.D. 1943, "Missouri and Missourians; Land of Contrasts and People of Achievements", Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, IL