John Gilmore Ford (1928–2024), courtesy Berthe Ford. It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of John Gilmore Ford, a longtime member of the Committee for Cultural Policy’s Board of Directors, on December 21, 2024, at his home in Baltimore, Maryland. John is survived by his wife Berthe Diana Ford, his partner in cultural advocacy and in philanthropy in support of the arts.
Born in Baltimore in 1928, John grew up in a family that instilled in him a profound appreciation for art and culture. His parents’ collection of Chinese decorative arts and the mentorship of his godfather, Edward Choate O’Dell, kindled an early passion for collecting. This love for art would shape his life and career, leading him to amass one of the most significant private collections of South Asian and Himalayan art in the United States.
John and Berthe Ford standing in a Tibetan shrine within their home, 2001.
John’s journey as a collector began in his twenties, an age when few have the vision to cultivate a world-class collection. Graduating from Johns Hopkins University and the Maryland Institute College of Art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, he launched a successful career in interior design and became a senior specialist in appraising Asian art in just six years. In 1981, he was appointed a member of the South Asia/Indian Art Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and became the long-serving President of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society in 1982.
Ford’s fascination with the arts of India, Nepal, and Tibet began with his first trip to India in 1963. That journey marked the start of a lifelong dedication to acquiring, studying, and preserving the artistic and cultural heritage of South Asia and the Himalayas.
A pivotal moment in John’s life came in 1971, when the Walters Art Museum exhibited his collection in “Indo-Asian Art from the John Gilmore Ford Collection.” This exhibition not only cemented his relationship with the museum but also introduced him to Berthe Diana Hanover, a brilliant and erudite scholar who shared his passion for art. They married in 1972, and together, they built an extraordinary collection, collaborating with scholars and curators to refine and share their treasures with the public.
John’s contributions to the arts extended far beyond his personal collection. He served as a trustee of the Freer-Sackler Museum and the Walters Art Museum, where he became a Trustee Emeritus. His leadership on the South Asian and Himalayan Acquisitions Committee of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and as chairman of the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust exemplified his commitment to preserving cultural heritage. Under his guidance, the Trust undertook dozens of restoration projects, safeguarding Nepal’s architectural treasures.
Buddha Preaching, Gandharan, 3rd century CE, The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. Gift of John and Berthe Ford, 2012.
John and Berthe’s gifts to the Walters Art Museum, including over 200 sculptures, paintings, and ritual objects, formed the foundation of the museum’s South Asian and Himalayan art galleries. Their legacy lives on at the museum in the Arts of Asia: Art of India, Nepal, and Tibet – The John and Berthe Ford Gallery, a testament to their dedication to making art accessible to all. Dr. Pratapaditya Pal, the preeminent scholar of Indian art who became a lifelong friend of the Fords, authored the exceptional, 348-page catalog entitled Desire and Devotion: The Art of India, Nepal and Tibet – The John and Berthe Ford Collection.
A staunch advocate for cultural and intellectual freedom, John was an outspoken critic of policies that threatened the preservation and accessibility of art. His efforts to oppose the misuse of cultural property agreements and his defense of persecuted religious and cultural minorities reflected his unwavering commitment to human rights and justice.
John Gilmore Ford’s legacy will continue to inspire and enrich the world of art and culture for generations to come. His life was a testament to the transformative power of art, and his contributions will be remembered with deep gratitude.
A memorial service will be held at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore on January 11, 2025, to celebrate John’s remarkable life and contributions. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust or the Walters Art Museum in his honor.
