From its earliest days, the Old Jail Art Center has had Asian art in its collection. The mothers of the museum's co-founders, Reilly Nail and Bill Bomar, collected Asian art. At the time of the museum's founding, the late Jewel Nail Bomar's collection of ancient Chinese tomb figures was in her son's hands, and he contributed it to the initial collection of the museum. Nail persuaded his mother, Wyldon Burgess Harrold, to give pieces from her collection of more recent artifacts. Through the years, others have enriched the collection with their gifts, including co-founders Bomar and Nail. Today, the collection comprises Chinese ceramics from the Han through Qing dynasties as well as an assortment of Japanese prints and ceramics and a few works from other cultures.

Excerpt from an essay by Jennifer Casler-Price, Curator for Asian and Non-Western Art, Kimbell Art Museum.

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Marshall R. Young Sculpture Courtyard

The Marshall R. Young Courtyard, named for one of Albany's pioneer oil men was created to exhibit the Old Jail Art Center's outdoor sculpture including American artists Jesus Bautista Moroles, Charles Williams, as well as post-WWII European sculptors Luigi Broggini, Pericle Fazzini, and Augusto Perez.

Other outdoor works of various media are installed throughout the museum’s grounds.

The Sallie Reynolds Matthews Collection

This collection honors both its namesake, author of Interwoven, and her youngest child, Watkins (Watt) Reynolds Matthews. The collection of furniture, books, and artifacts, centers on the headquarters of the Matthews' historic Lambshead Ranch, area ranches, and regional history.

BROWSE BOOKS ABOUT THE REYNOLDS AND MATTHEWS FAMILIES AVAILABLE IN THE MUSEUM STORE

The Robert E. Nail, Jr. Archives at the Old Jail Art Center was established to provide a historical memory and a genealogical resource of the people of Albany and the Shackelford, Stephens, Throckmorton, and Young County areas. The Archives also seeks to supplement the museum's fine arts collection with the personal/professional papers of artists whose work are in the permanent collection.

The Archives are open to the public:
Tuesday - Friday 11:00-5:00 pm.
To better assist researchers, appointments are encouraged. Please call 325.762.2269

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SPOKEN: Ardon B. Judd, Jr. Oral History Project

SPOKEN: Ardon B. Judd, Jr. Oral History Project has been established to record the stories and life histories of the people of Albany, Texas and its surrounding region. In memory of Old Jail Art Center Board member and archives supporter Ardon Judd, the project will preserve this rich history and make it accessible to visitors, students, and researchers.

Individual videos and full length interviews, along with their respective transcripts, can be found on the project page HERE.

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