C H I P S T O N E
A Brief History of the Chipstone Foundation
In 1946 Polly and Stanley Stone began collecting early
American furniture and historical prints, as well as
seventeenth and eighteenth century British pottery. The
collection was housed in a colonial revival brick home in the
residential neighborhood of Fox Point, Wisconsin. They
named the house Chipstone after Stanley Stone’s pet name
for Polly, his chipmunk. By the early 1960s their collection
was impressive enough to capture the attention of Charles
Montgomery, then Senior Research Fellow and former
Director of the Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum.
At Montgomery's urging the Stones established the
Chipstone Foundation with the purpose of preserving and
interpreting their collection and stimulating research and
education in the decorative arts. Following Stanley Stone's
death in 1987, the foundation was activated by an initial
endowment provided by Mrs. Stone. Polly Stone remained
closely involved in the Foundation until her death in 1995 at
the age of 97.
American furniture and historical prints, as well as
seventeenth and eighteenth century British pottery. The
collection was housed in a colonial revival brick home in the
residential neighborhood of Fox Point, Wisconsin. They
named the house Chipstone after Stanley Stone’s pet name
for Polly, his chipmunk. By the early 1960s their collection
was impressive enough to capture the attention of Charles
Montgomery, then Senior Research Fellow and former
Director of the Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum.
At Montgomery's urging the Stones established the
Chipstone Foundation with the purpose of preserving and
interpreting their collection and stimulating research and
education in the decorative arts. Following Stanley Stone's
death in 1987, the foundation was activated by an initial
endowment provided by Mrs. Stone. Polly Stone remained
closely involved in the Foundation until her death in 1995 at
the age of 97.
Today, the Chipstone Foundation continues to preserve and
interpret the objects collected by the Stones as a living
collection, with the purpose of promoting original research
and innovative education programs in the decorative arts
and material culture. Read our Mission Statement to
learn more. Since 1999 the Foundation has partnered with
the Milwaukee Art Museum to share our collections and
research with the broader public. We have developed strong
collaborative relationships with the University of Wisconsin-
Madison and many local and national museums and arts
institutions. Explore this site to learn more about our
publication, exhibition, outreach, research, teaching
and curatorial initiatives.
interpret the objects collected by the Stones as a living
collection, with the purpose of promoting original research
and innovative education programs in the decorative arts
and material culture. Read our Mission Statement to
learn more. Since 1999 the Foundation has partnered with
the Milwaukee Art Museum to share our collections and
research with the broader public. We have developed strong
collaborative relationships with the University of Wisconsin-
Madison and many local and national museums and arts
institutions. Explore this site to learn more about our
publication, exhibition, outreach, research, teaching
and curatorial initiatives.
