Albert Coombs Barnes (January 2, 1872 – July 24, 1951) was an American chemist and art collector. With the fortune made from the development of the antiseptic, gonorrhea drug Argyrol, he founded the Barnes Foundation, an educational institution based on his private collection of art. It is strongly represented by paintings by Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Modernist masters, as well as furniture and crafted objects. It is located near Phil...
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Albert Coombs Barnes (January 2, 1872 – July 24, 1951) was an American chemist and art collector. With the fortune made from the development of the antiseptic, gonorrhea drug Argyrol, he founded the Barnes Foundation, an educational institution based on his private collection of art. It is strongly represented by paintings by Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Modernist masters, as well as furniture and crafted objects. It is located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Barnes was known as an eccentric figure who had a passion for educating the underprivileged. He created a special relationship with Lincoln University, a historically black college in the area, and gave the university a strong role in administration of his foundation. It selected candidates for four of the five original trustee seats.
Barnes was born in Philadelphia to working-class parents. His father had been a butcher before the Civil War (American) where he lost his right arm in at the Battle of Cold Harbor and...
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