An Educator’s Legacy: Marion E. James and the Arts of Islamic Cultures Gallery

Our new Arts of Islamic Cultures Gallery is now open thanks to a special bequest.

If you’ve been to the MFA recently, you may have found yourself in the new Arts of Islamic Cultures Gallery. It opened in July after years of planning, and its rich colors and intimate alcoves showcase our fine collection. Transformed from what was once a corridor, it invites visitors to slow down and appreciate the diversity of Islamic artistic traditions. Curators, community members, and designers all helped make this gorgeous new space a reality, but its existence is also thanks to a person who lived a rich life full of many interests and passions—for travel, for art, and for the MFA.

Born in 1918, Marion E. James was a woman ahead of her time. After receiving her BA from the University of New Hampshire in 1940, she earned an MA and PhD from Radcliffe College before returning to UNH to teach history. She eventually chaired the department and was one of the university’s first women to become a full professor.

Marion studied ancient Greece and Rome, but she believed in the importance of a global perspective. She spent time in the Middle East, traveling to Egypt, Syria, Iraq, India, and Afghanistan in the 1960s, when it was rare for women to explore the world alone. A fearless adventurer, Marion crossed the Khyber Pass by bus and traversed Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Inspired by her experiences, Marion encouraged colleagues to look beyond the Western world in their teaching.

During her travels, Marion developed an appreciation for the arts of Islamic cultures. She collected ceramics, miniature paintings, and other objects, and enjoyed sharing them with friends. When she passed away in 2015 at age 97, Marion had no living family members. She chose to leave her estate to organizations that held meaning for her, including the MFA, where she had been a member for more than 40 years.

Marion’s gift to the Museum’s Art of Asia department arrived at the perfect moment. Progress on plans for a new Arts of Islamic Cultures Gallery had stalled due to lack of funds, and Marion’s generous bequest enabled the Museum to realize the gallery as it is today, encompassing works from across many of the countries Marion loved. Because of her support, visitors of all ages can develop new perspectives, and perhaps even be inspired to travel, for years to come.