Rug collector. Educated in the public schools of Almont, Michigan, James settled in St. Louis, Missouri in 1874 and established a drug business under the name of James F. Ballard. In 1923 he incorporated the business.
Mr. Ballard was the treasurer of James F. Ballard, Inc, director of the First National Bank in St. Louis, director of the St. Louis Union Trust Company, director of Fellows Medical Manufacturing Company in New York and owner of the Henry B. Platt Company in New York. In addition, he was trustee of the Missouri Historical Society, a member of the Executive Committee Archaeological Society of St. Louis, a Fellow for Life of the National Academy of Design in New York and a benefactor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His club memberships included Bankers, Lotos, Salmagundi, National Economic, Congressional Country Club, New York Water Color Society and the St. Louis Club.
He was known all over the world as the "Dean of Oriental Rug Collectors." He presented a collection of rare Oriental rug masterpieces, the value which exceeded one million dollars, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It was said to be the greatest of its kind ever assembled by any museum or individual. His personal collection was equal in value to that given to the museum. Mr. Ballard risked his life, endured hunger, was made a prisoner of war so that the rugs he was seeking could hang today on the walls of America's finest museums where they may be studied by all who love ancient art.
Among the magazine articles that have appeared about Mr. Ballard is a comprehensive one in the September 1925 issue of "Everybody's." Other articles have appeared in the "Americana," the "Spur," and the "American Magazine of Art."
Mr. Ballard was the treasurer of James F. Ballard, Inc, director of the First National Bank in St. Louis, director of the St. Louis Union Trust Company, director of Fellows Medical Manufacturing Company in New York and owner of the Henry B. Platt Company in New York. In addition, he was trustee of the Missouri Historical Society, a member of the Executive Committee Archaeological Society of St. Louis, a Fellow for Life of the National Academy of Design in New York and a benefactor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His club memberships included Bankers, Lotos, Salmagundi, National Economic, Congressional Country Club, New York Water Color Society and the St. Louis Club.
He was known all over the world as the "Dean of Oriental Rug Collectors." He presented a collection of rare Oriental rug masterpieces, the value which exceeded one million dollars, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It was said to be the greatest of its kind ever assembled by any museum or individual. His personal collection was equal in value to that given to the museum. Mr. Ballard risked his life, endured hunger, was made a prisoner of war so that the rugs he was seeking could hang today on the walls of America's finest museums where they may be studied by all who love ancient art.
Among the magazine articles that have appeared about Mr. Ballard is a comprehensive one in the September 1925 issue of "Everybody's." Other articles have appeared in the "Americana," the "Spur," and the "American Magazine of Art."
Rug collector. Educated in the public schools of Almont, Michigan, James settled in St. Louis, Missouri in 1874 and established a drug business under the name of James F. Ballard. In 1923 he incorporated the business.
Mr. Ballard was the treasurer of James F. Ballard, Inc, director of the First National Bank in St. Louis, director of the St. Louis Union Trust Company, director of Fellows Medical Manufacturing Company in New York and owner of the Henry B. Platt Company in New York. In addition, he was trustee of the Missouri Historical Society, a member of the Executive Committee Archaeological Society of St. Louis, a Fellow for Life of the National Academy of Design in New York and a benefactor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His club memberships included Bankers, Lotos, Salmagundi, National Economic, Congressional Country Club, New York Water Color Society and the St. Louis Club.
He was known all over the world as the "Dean of Oriental Rug Collectors." He presented a collection of rare Oriental rug masterpieces, the value which exceeded one million dollars, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It was said to be the greatest of its kind ever assembled by any museum or individual. His personal collection was equal in value to that given to the museum. Mr. Ballard risked his life, endured hunger, was made a prisoner of war so that the rugs he was seeking could hang today on the walls of America's finest museums where they may be studied by all who love ancient art.
Among the magazine articles that have appeared about Mr. Ballard is a comprehensive one in the September 1925 issue of "Everybody's." Other articles have appeared in the "Americana," the "Spur," and the "American Magazine of Art."
Mr. Ballard was the treasurer of James F. Ballard, Inc, director of the First National Bank in St. Louis, director of the St. Louis Union Trust Company, director of Fellows Medical Manufacturing Company in New York and owner of the Henry B. Platt Company in New York. In addition, he was trustee of the Missouri Historical Society, a member of the Executive Committee Archaeological Society of St. Louis, a Fellow for Life of the National Academy of Design in New York and a benefactor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His club memberships included Bankers, Lotos, Salmagundi, National Economic, Congressional Country Club, New York Water Color Society and the St. Louis Club.
He was known all over the world as the "Dean of Oriental Rug Collectors." He presented a collection of rare Oriental rug masterpieces, the value which exceeded one million dollars, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It was said to be the greatest of its kind ever assembled by any museum or individual. His personal collection was equal in value to that given to the museum. Mr. Ballard risked his life, endured hunger, was made a prisoner of war so that the rugs he was seeking could hang today on the walls of America's finest museums where they may be studied by all who love ancient art.
Among the magazine articles that have appeared about Mr. Ballard is a comprehensive one in the September 1925 issue of "Everybody's." Other articles have appeared in the "Americana," the "Spur," and the "American Magazine of Art."
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