Daniel W.B. Tarbell, the grandson of the esteemed artist Edmund C. Tarbell, established the Tarbell Charitable Trust with a dedicated purpose – to preserve and offer public access to a distinguished collection comprising paintings, drawings, furniture, and memorabilia inherited over his lifetime from his grandfather.

Driven by a desire to circumvent the customary dispersion of such intimate collections into private hands or institutions prone to viewing them as mere trade commodities, Mr. Tarbell endowed the Trust with the authority to accept donations of Edmund Tarbell’s artwork from various sources. Each donated piece is accorded the same level of protection and accessibility as the entirety of the collection.

The Tarbell Charitable Trust operates on the foundational principle of a “Lending Library,” facilitating public access through short- and long-term loans to esteemed institutions, including museums, galleries, libraries, historical societies, and schools. This service, however, is contingent upon borrowers meeting stringent criteria for security and display conditions.

Presently, the preponderance of the collection, thoughtfully displayed or securely stored, resides in Groton, Massachusetts – a deliberate choice by Mr. Tarbell to acknowledge the often overlooked historical importance of this locale as the birthplace of the artist. The Tarbell Charitable Trust stands as a testament to Daniel W.B. Tarbell’s unwavering commitment to preserving his grandfather’s artistic legacy and promoting widespread appreciation through careful curation and accessibility initiatives.