About the Collection

The Malden Public Library owns a varied collection of artwork, which is housed in three art galleries in the Converse Memorial building. The original art collection exists through the generosity of Elisha and Mary Slade Converse. Not only did Converse family finance the library building itself, upon their deaths a fund was created to fund that could only be used specifically for the purchase of works of art. The first purchase was made in 1892 – Cape Ann Pasture by Malden artist Albion H. Bicknell. Many of the early works were selected by Arthur Pope, the noted color theorist and professor of art at Harvard from 1906-1949. More recent acquisitions include works by Perle Fine, Frank Stella, and John Day.