PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 19, 2004 /PRNewswire/ -- CIGNA Corporation today said that it will be donating its collection of historical artifacts, as well as several major American paintings, to museums and institutions in Philadelphia, Hartford and elsewhere.
In addition, art from CIGNA’s collection of late 19th and early 20th Century paintings and works on paper will be sold at auction by Sotheby’s. In total, CIGNA will be donating approximately 5,000 pieces of art and artifacts and auctioning approximately 200 pieces.
“As CIGNA’s business has evolved over time to health care and related benefits, we felt it was appropriate to reexamine how we were using our collections,” said John Cannon, CIGNA Senior Vice President, Public Affairs. “We determined that the fine art and historical artifacts in our collections could be appreciated better if they were more readily accessible to the public.”
The art and artifacts of CIGNA’s various collections were acquired over many years and were typically tied in some way to the focus of the business during a particular era. The main business of one of CIGNA’s predecessor companies, for example, was marine insurance and the company acquired an extensive collection of ship models, maritime paintings and related memorabilia reflecting the activities of the company during that period.
For the same reason, the company has one of the nation’s most extensive collections of early firefighting equipment and memorabilia, dating from the time when a predecessor company offered fire insurance. The collection includes a Reaney and Neafie engine, considered to be the oldest steam fire engine in America.
“The collections represent not only the rich history of CIGNA and its predecessor companies but also the development of commerce in the United States generally,” said Melissa Hough, curator of the CIGNA museum. “CIGNA’s roots go back to nearly the founding of our country, and our collections reflect those deep roots.”
Disposition of the collections will be done mainly through a combination of donations to nationally and internationally recognized institutions and museums, as well as the auction of a smaller number of pieces by Sotheby’s in New York. Institutions being considered for donations include the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, the Wadsworth Athenaeum in Hartford and Fireman’s Hall in Philadelphia, among others.
As a Business of Caring, CIGNA provides employers with benefits programs, expertise and services that improve the health, well-being and productivity of their employees. Serving millions of customers, clients and members in the United States and around the globe, CIGNA’s operating subsidiaries offer a full portfolio of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits; group life, accident and disability insurance, and health care coverage for expatriate employees. For more information: http://www.cigna.com/.
CIGNA Corporation
Contact: Wendell Potter, CIGNA Corporation, +1-215-761-4450,Wendell.Potter@cigna.com
Web site: http://www.cigna.com/
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