Princeton Art Museum’s James Steward Featured at 1746 Society Reunions Breakfast

James Steward, the Nancy A. Nasher–David J. Haemisegger, Class of 1976, Director of the Princeton University Art Museum, addressed alumni and friends during the annual 1746 Society Reunions Breakfast Seminar on May 23 in the Grand Hall of the Princeton University Art Museum.

Heather Seagroatt, executive director of Gift Planning, welcomed members and friends and thanked them for their generosity to the University through their planned gifts. She also recognized the members of the Planned Giving Advisory Council and the Gift Planning class chairs who were in attendance and thanked them for their service. Seagroatt then introduced Steward, whose presentation was titled “Reflections on Making a New Museum for Princeton.”

Steward has served as director of the museum since April 2009 and directs a staff of more than 170 and collections of more than 117,000 works of art that span the globe and more than 5,000 years of human history. He led the design, fundraising, construction and curation of the new museum facility for Princeton, which opened in October 2025.

He began his presentation by extending his gratitude to alumni and friends, noting that philanthropic gifts provided two-thirds of the cost of the museum project.

Enjoy a video of Steward’s presentation.

His presentation was preceded by a performance by the Katzenjammers, who delighted attendees by singing Princeton’s “Going Back to Nassau Hall” and the Beatles’ “Blackbird,” before leading alumni and friends in “Old Nassau.”

The 1746 Society gratefully acknowledges those whose estate plans and life income gifts support Princeton’s future and mission. To become a member, please contact Gift Planning by calling 609.258.6318 or sending an email to 1746soc@princeton.edu. To learn more, visit the Gift Planning website.