Frank Applebee, Chair of the School of Art and Architecture, arranged for the purchase of 36 paintings for $1,072 from a government auction. This formed the core of what was hoped to be a Museum collection.  These paintings offer an extraordinary representation of the American art scene with works by such artists as Ralston Crawford, Ben Shahn, Georgia O’Keeffe, John Marin, Jacob Lawrence, Arthur Dove and Romare Bearden. Though funding for the museum was not forthcoming there were those who held fast to the idea.