A Wife’s Memorial Gift Continues the Work and Passion of Her Late Husband

Continuing a Legacy by Building the Artifact Collection

For nearly 55 years, Nan Hawks and her late husband, Dan, involved themselves in the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, both as donors and through Dan’s work in building the museum collection.

As a curator who began his 47-year tenure in 1969, Dan played a role in helping the museums grow from regional attractions to world-class museums. Dan loved his profession to such a degree that according to Nan, he felt he “never worked a day in his life.”

Throughout his time at JYF, Dan worked tirelessly to enhance and expand the artifact collection, acquiring objects from around the world that best enabled the Foundation to tell the stories of the people and events that converged here in the 17th and 18th centuries.

In addition to his curatorial role, Dan served as a mentor and left a lasting impact on his fellow colleagues. Tom Davidson, former senior curator, recalled, “When I first came to JYF in 1987, I had virtually no experience with acquiring artifacts on the overseas market. Dan generously shared his extensive knowledge of the sometimes bewildering world of British antique dealers and auction houses with me. The fact that he was a respected figure on both sides of the Atlantic gave the Foundation access to some real treasures that otherwise would have escaped our collecting net. It was due to his guidance, contacts and judgement that we were able to acquire our unique collection of original 17th-century portraits of Virginia Company investors.”

To honor Dan’s legacy and continue their ongoing support of JYF, Nan recently made a special gift towards artifact acquisition across both museums. In addition, visitors will enjoy a new place to sit and take in the scenery at Jamestown Settlement with a bench bearing his name.

Memorial gifts like Nan’s not only honor the passions and interests of loved ones, but also help their legacy live on by supporting the educational work at JYF for years to come. For more information about supporting our artifact acquisition program or how you can recognize others through gifts to the Foundation, contact Senior Director of Development Julie Basic at (757) 253-4108.