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Donor Profile:  Hannah and Russel Kully

Longtime Fellows Endow Art Director Position

Nov-Dec 2005

More than four decades ago Hannah Kully gave her husband Russel a European print as a wedding present. This gesture marked the beginning of a mutual interest in art that the Kullys have carried on to this day. Over the years they have given each other works of art as birthday, anniversary, and Christmas presents. Along the way, each became enamored of a genre: Hannah was drawn to 20th-century American prints; Russ collected British etchings from the late 19th through the early 20th century.

Hannah and Russ Kully found another way to engage their art interest, this time by melding it with their deep-rooted philanthropic practices. Since the 1990s, the couple has been actively involved with The Huntington, situated just a few blocks from their art-filled home in San Marino. The Kullys have been Fellows for many years, as well as members of the Art Collectors’ Council. Russ is also an Overseer and has served as chair of the Overseers’ Art Collections Committee.

Recently, the Kullys took a monumental step that signifies both their belief that art is an important dimension of life and their commitment to The Huntington—the couple pledged a $3 million gift to endow the position of the director of the art collections. John Murdoch has held that position since 2002; he is now known as the Hannah and Russel Kully Director of the Art Collections. The gift also includes an additional $1 million for general use for the art collections at the Trustees’ discretion.

A recent trip to Australia to visit their daughter and her family afforded the Kullys the time to think and talk through what they really wanted to contribute to the Campaign and, in a larger sense, The Huntington. Says Russ, “What made sense to us was to propose a large immediate gift, together with a pledge in the form of an enlarged bequest, which would give us the opportunity to leave a named legacy.” The Kullys knew they didn’t have the ability to make a large gift right away, since the greatest portion of their resources were mostly tied up in real estate, which they didn’t plan to sell for many years. “With some rather courageous steps, in our view,” says Hannah, ”we rearranged our resources so as to generate an immediate gift funding a large portion of the art director’s endowment, with the remainder coming by way of an irrevocable bequest payable out of our estate.”

The couple is excited that the endowment will provide the art director with the opportunity over the years to creatively manage and develop the Huntington’s stunning art collections. By an additional provision in their living trust, the Kullys have also created a substantial fund for acquisitions in the field of American Art.

At the same time, the Kullys have bequeathed as a planned gift Hannah’s collection of American prints. Hannah began collecting the mostly black-and-white prints in earnest in the mid-1980s, and it is now an impressive collection of significant worth. With a doctorate in sociology from UCLA, Hannah found herself drawn to the social and cultural messages portrayed in the art of such American artists as George Bellows (1882-1925), Milton Avery (1893-1965), and Grant Wood (1892-1942).

“Hannah has an excellent eye for prints of the finest quality and condition,” says Jessica Smith, the Virginia Steele Scott Curator of American Art. “With great intelligence, diligence, and passion, she has built an extraordinary group of American prints that perfectly complements those already in the Huntington’s collection. This gift will undoubtedly serve as the inspiration for a splendid array of programs, scholarship, and exhibitions in the years ahead.”

The Huntington’s art collections have already greatly benefited from the Kully’s generosity. In 1995 Russ gave his entire collection of British etchings to The Huntington, which then mounted the exhibition “The Etching Revival in Britain: Selections from the Russel I. Kully Collection.”

Russel Kully, an attorney with the law firm Arnold & Porter, principally represents foundations and other non-profit entities. The Kullys who have two children, Elizabeth and Andrew, and five grandchildren, are also well regarded within the San Gabriel Valley for their tireless philanthropic work. Hannah for many years served as a board member and later as president of the Union Station Foundation, a non-profit organization started by All Saints Church that serves the homeless in Pasadena. Russ has also served on its board. A strong advocate of public television, Russ spent a number of years as the chair of KCET and on the board of PBS.

Why are the Kullys so devoted to their philanthropic endeavors?

“We decided early in our marriage to commit our energies and resources, to every extent reasonably possible, to support worthwhile community projects,” says Russ. “We certainly have no regrets about that decision.”

“We both came from families that were involved,” adds Hannah. “And it has provided us with many wonderful friends.” It is just such great friendships that have helped make The Huntington the remarkable institution it is today.