This fund was established in honor of Ruth P. Phillips in 2005 for the purpose of supporting art acquisition at the Harn Museum of Art.

Phillips was born on May 17, 1918 in Atlanta. She attended Randolph Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, VA, where she became a member of Chi Omega Sorority. Later, she attended Columbia University. In 1941 she married E.L. Phillips, Jr., and the couple had two children, Elwin and James. In her spare time, Ruth enjoyed decorating the Angel Christmas tree at the Cummer Museum and serving as a founding member of the University of Florida Harn Museum Founders Council. Ruth passed away June 15, 2005.