Subtitle 14 – Walters Art Gallery
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Part 1 – Acceptance of Property
Balt., Md., Code art. 18, § 14-1 (2026)
§ 14-1 Acceptance of property.LinkCopy Citation
The Mayor of the City of Baltimore is hereby authorized and directed to accept from the Safe Deposit and Trust Company of Baltimore, executor under the last will and testament of Henry Walters, late of Baltimore City, deceased, all property and funds which the said executor is required to convey, transfer and pay over to the Mayor and City of Baltimore under the terms and provisions of said last will and testament; and the Mayor of the City of Baltimore is hereby further authorized and directed to give to said executor receipts and releases, adequate in form and substance, for each property and funds so conveyed, transferred, and paid over.
History: Ord. 33-400
Balt., Md., Code art. 18, § 14-2 (2026)
§ 14-2 Use of property.LinkCopy Citation
The Walters Art Gallery and the property at 5 West Mount Vernon Place, and the contents of the buildings, shall be used for the benefit of the public, as directed by Item 2 of said last will and testament; and the income from the endowment fund created under paragraph C of Item 3 of said last will and testament shall be used for the purpose of maintaining the Walters Art Gallery for the benefit of the public.
History: Ord. 33-400
History: Ord. 76-053
Balt., Md., Code art. 18, § 14-3 to 14-5 (2026)
§§ 14-3 to 14-5LinkCopy Citation
Reserved
Part 2 – Trustees of Walters Art Gallery
Balt., Md., Code art. 18, § 14-6 (2026)
§ 14-6 Trustees created.LinkCopy Citation
The Trustees of the Walters Art Gallery are created as a body corporate, as provided in Chapter 217, Laws of Maryland 1933.
History: Ord. 33-400
History: Ord. 99-526
Balt., Md., Code art. 18, § 14-7 (2026)
§ 14-7 Organization.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Composition.
The Trustees comprise:
(1)
the Mayor of Baltimore;
(2)
the President of the City Council of Baltimore;
(3)
a representative of the Safe Deposit and Trust Company, trustee under the last will and testament of Henry Walters, to be selected by that company; and
(4)
no less than 6 nor more than 40 elected members, as the Bylaws of the Trustees specify.
(b)Term of elected members.
(1)
The term of an elected member is 3 years.
(2)
The terms of the elected members are staggered as required by the terms for members as of May 30, 1996.
(3)
On expiration of the term of an elected member, a successor is to be elected by the remaining Trustees.
(4)
Elected members are eligible to succeed themselves.
(c)Vacancies.
Any vacancy is to be filled by the remaining Trustees for the remainder of the term in which the vacancy occurs.
(d)Officers.
The officers of the Trustees are as provided in Chapter 217, Laws of Maryland 1933.
(e)Compensation.
The Trustees receive no compensation for the performance of their duties.
History: Ord. 33-400
History: Ord. 33-468
History: Ord. 38-691
History: Ord. 45-203
History: Ord. 50-1084
History: Ord. 96-016
History: Ord. 99-526
Balt., Md., Code art. 18, § 14-8 (2026)
§ 14-8 Powers and duties.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
The Trustees have the powers and duties provided in Chapter 217, Laws of Maryland 1933, and this section.
(b)Control over legacy.
The Trustees shall have full and complete control over the property and funds given to the City of Baltimore by Henry Walters, as the agency through which the directions and intent of the donor are to be obeyed and his objects realized.
(c)Buildings and contents.
The Trustees may use the Walters Art Gallery and the property at 5 West Mount Vernon Place, together with the contents of those buildings, only for the benefit of the public, as directed in Item 2 of the last will and testament of Henry Walters.
(d)Endowment fund income.
(1)
The Safe Deposit and Trust Company is directed to pay the income from the trust fund created under Item C.3 of the last will and testament of Henry Walters to the Trustees of Walters Art Gallery, in quarterly installments, and the Trustees of Walters Art Gallery is appointed agent of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore to receive those payments.
(2)
Any payment of income by the Safe Deposit and Trust Company to the Trustees is deemed a payment to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, and the Safe Deposit and Trust Company is released, acquitted, and discharged of all responsibility and liability for the income so paid to the Trustees.
(3)
The Trustees may receive and expend this income for the purpose of maintaining the Walters Art Gallery for the benefit of the public, including the acquisition and improvement of property incidental to the purposes of the last will and testament.
(e)Proceeds of property dispositions.
The Trustees may expend for the same purposes any funds derived from selling any of the contents of Walters Art Gallery or of the property at 5 West Mount Vernon Place found not to be of museum value or interest.
History: Ord. 33-400
History: Ord. 33-468
History: Ord. 76-053
History: Ord. 99-526
Balt., Md., Code art. 18, § 14-9 (2026)
§ 14-9 Annual report.LinkCopy Citation
As soon as convenient after January 1 of each year, but not later than March 15, the Trustees of Walters Art Gallery shall submit a report of the activities and operations of Walters Art Gallery to the Board of Estimates and each member of the City Council.
History: Ord. 33-468
History: Ord. 99-526
Balt., Md., Code art. 18, § 14-10 (2026)
§ 14-10 Name and continuation of gallery.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Name.
As a testimonial to the generosity and public spirit of the late Henry Walters, the gallery shall be known in perpetuity as “Walters Art Gallery”.
(b)Merger prohibited.
The gallery may not, at any time, be merged or consolidated with any other institution.
History: Ord. 33-468
History: Ord. 50-1084
History: Ord. 99-526
Balt., Md., Code art. 18, § 14-11 (2026)
§ 14-11 Dispositions, loans, and exhibitions.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Disposition prohibited without City consent.
The Trustees may not sell or otherwise dispose of any work of art without the consent of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.
(b)Loans and Exhibitions.
Objects of art owned by the Walters Art Gallery may be loaned to or exhibited in any other institution without the approval of the Mayor and City Council. However, the Trustees must provide notice of any loan or exhibition to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore and the Board of Estimates of Baltimore City.
History: Ord. 33-468
History: Ord. 50-1084
History: Ord. 99-526
Balt., Md., Code art. 18, § 14-12 (2026)
§ 14-12 Charter and Bylaws.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Charter amendments.
No amendment to the Act of Incorporation (Chapter 217, Laws of Maryland 1933) may be accepted or observed by the Trustees of Walters Art Gallery without the consent of the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore.
(b)Bylaws.
A copy of the bylaws of the corporation and any amendments to the bylaws, as adopted from time to time, shall be filed with the Department of Legislative Reference and accessible at all times to the public.
History: Ord. 33-468
History: Ord. 50-1084
History: Ord. 99-526