Closed College Plans to Auction Valuables
Slated for auction: Palmer’s bas-relief E. B. Morgan’s mother.
Press release of February 2, 2026
Wells Legacy Society says local historical items should be donated to area museums.
Recent court filings reveal that Wells College in Aurora, NY, plans to auction art works, rare books, and other valuables which may realize millions of dollars in sales. The Wells Legacy Society (WLS), incorporated by concerned alums two weeks after the college’s closure in April 2024, believes that some of those items could and should remain in the area.
“The College aims to sell off chunks of precious local history,” says WLS officer Rachel Snyder of Rochester, NY. “Since the generous $12.5M offer from the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge to buy the campus has been accepted, it appears the college will have enough to pay off its endowment debt. Auction of some items is not necessary. Locally significant items can to be gifted to remain local.”
In addition to the items being placed in auction, the court filings reveal that the college plans to sell millions of dollars worth of off-campus real estate. The filings also state that the college has no creditors, and that any funds remaining after disolution will be distributed to charities.
“As an educational institution, the college has an ethical obligation to donate items of local historic significance to regional or state museums,” says WLS officer and Aurora resident Karen Hindenlang. “The college could afford to do that, given the projected income from these auctions and property sales. We feel that the college should not end up holding a surplus of funds for charitable distribution. Why not donate the items themselves to regional and state museums, to benefit the Finger Lakes community?”
Examples of items which the WLS believes should remain in-state and accessible include three bas-relief works by Erastus Dow Palmer. Two are of Edwin B. Morgan’s family. Morgan was born in Aurora, raised his family there, served three terms as a U.S. Congressman, helped found the New York Times, partnered in business with Henry Wells, and rescued Wells College from financial difficulties. Another Palmer bas-relief, entitled “Morning,” inspired the Wells College seal. Such items may enter private ownership and become forever inaccessible if the college does not withdraw them from auction.
“This is heartbreaking, since the college indicated it would give alums advance notice of any auctions,” said Ms. Snyder. “They did not. Christie’s has already sold valuable portions of the college’s instructional legacy,” including a first edition of Isaac Newton’s Opticks of 1704 and a large 15th Century illustrated manuscript Book of Hours. “These sales raised substantial funds for the college’s ‘wind-down’ costs.”
Ms. Hindenlang added, “Items pertaining to our local Wells history should remain close to where that history happened. The Wells College Board of Trustees can make that possible.”
Search by the name Wells College for Recent Court Filings, including:
Valuations and appraisals of some of the art works.
Items already sold by Christie’s of NYC.
Off-campus real estate sales projected to total nearly $3M.
