American Art Legacy Society

The American Art Legacy Society recognizes individuals who have made bequests, charitable gift annuities, or other planned gifts that will benefit the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Members are:

• Invited to private tours of museum exhibitions and insider access to special projects;
• Invited to exhibition openings and special events at the Museum and across the country;
• Invited to the annual state-of-the-museum event with SAAM Director;
• Provided reserved seating at select public lectures and symposia;
• Sent a museum exhibition catalogue, one per year;
• Given an American Art Museum lapel pin;
• Eligible to be members of the Smithsonian Legacy Society, a larger group for planned gift donors to all of the Smithsonian's museums and research centers. A prime benefit of the Smithsonian Legacy Society is an invitation to Annual Smithsonian Weekend—a weekend of receptions in prominent Smithsonian venues, tours led by curators and scholars, the Secretary's Keynote Address, and a formal dinner with Smithsonian leadership, among other activities and meals.

Building SAAM's Future: Donor Sally T. Hillsman

When Sally Hillsman visits SAAM, it inspires her to think of the future, especially what the world will be like for young people.

Over the past thirty years, Hillsman, a lover of American art and craft, has made the galleries at SAAM and the Renwick Gallery a favorite place to visit and has come to appreciate all that she has watched SAAM achieve in her three decades in Washington, DC. It led her to wonder what she could do to help. Hillsman included a generous gift to SAAM in her estate planning that will help ensure that the museum can continue to educate and inspire people of all ages, but especially younger generations.

A sociologist by training, Hillsman is former CEO of the American Sociological Association and deputy director of the National Institute of Justice. She grew up outside of New York and is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and had a pivotal year abroad at the University of Edinburgh. Hillsman has been a steadfast member of SAAM's Director's Circle for fifteen years and also joined the Smithsonian Legacy Society through her bequest.

"America's youth have an opportunity through SAAM to be in touch with the breadth of our country's artistic heritage and with living artists and artisans who can inspire them to achieve in their own artistic efforts."
—Sally T. Hillsman