The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy, founded in 1862, is the governing body of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. It is among the oldest public arts organizations in the United States. A major event in the life of the Academy occurred with the construction of the Albright Art Gallery, a generous gift from Buffalo entrepreneur and philanthropist John J. Albright. Intended to serve first as the Fine Arts Pavilion of the Pan-American Exposition in 1901, it was completed too late for that purpose in 1905. The original building was designed by Edward B. Green, the distinguished Buffalo architect also responsible for the design of the Toledo Museum of Art and the Dayton Art Institute.;xNLx;;xNLx;Later, the museum was significantly enhanced with the addition of a new wing designed by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of New York. Made possible with major donations from Seymour H. Knox, Jr. and his family, and hundreds of other contributors, the new addition was dedicated in 1962, and the museum was renamed the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Additional galleries are located in Clifton Hall, which is connected to the main building by an underground pedestrian link.;xNLx;;xNLx;The museum's main entrance is located on Elmwood Avenue, directly across from the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College. The museum's east side overlooks Hoyt Lake, situated in Frederick Law Olmsted's Delaware Park.
On December 24, 1861, the Fine Arts Committee of the Young Men's Association held the first public art exhibition in Buffalo, New York.
The organization of The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy occurred on November 11, 1862.
On December 4, 1862, The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy was incorporated.
The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy rented space in the Arcade Building, on Main and Clinton Streets, from 1862 to 1865.
The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy rented space in the Young Men’s Association Building, located on Main and Eagle Streets, from 1865 to 1881.
The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy rented space in the Austin Building, on Franklin Avenue and West Eagle Street, from 1881 to 1887.
The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy rented space in the Buffalo Library and Young Men’s Association Building from 1887 to 1905.
In 1896, a redecoration Buffalo Fine Arts Academy’s exhibition space occurred and it also received electricity.
BFAA Board hired architect Edward Brodhead (E.B.) Green, of Green & Wicks, to design new art gallery.
Ground for the new art gallery, presented to the Academy by John Joseph Albright, was broken on January 15, 1900.
The BFAA Board of Directors voted for the establishment and maintenance of a library of art and an art school.
The Albright Art Gallery remained under construction throughout the entire Pan-American Exposition.
The Pan-American Exposition was held in Buffalo from May 1 through November 2, 1901.
The Art Students League moves from the Buffalo Savings Bank into the basement of the Albright Art Gallery.
Construction of the new Albright Art Gallery was completed in Spring 1905.
The new museum opened to the public on May 31, 1905.
The first exhibition held at Albright Art Gallery was on view from May 31 until July 1, 1905.
The Arts Students League was disbanded in 1910.
In 1919, the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences sought to build a museum on Elmwood Avenue, next to the Albright Art Gallery.
Augustus Saint-Gaudens’s "Eight Caryatid Figures,"1906-1907, are temporarily installed in 1922.
Colonel Charles Clifton purchases and presents building on Elmwood Avenue to The Buffalo Fine Arts Academy in 1927.
Building donated by Charles Clifton renovated to use as classroom space for the School of Fine Arts of The Buffalo Arts Academy.
A new print room was established in the basement level of the 1905 Building.
The entire 1905 Building’s interior was redecorated and the Sculpture Court was renovated in 1929.
Colonel Charles Clifton donated funds to renovate Albright Art School.
The Buffalo Museum of Science (or the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences) opens to the public in 1929.
A reference art library opens to the public in 1933.
The sculptures were installed and unveiled to the public on Tuesday, June 5, 1934.
The Art School became associated with the University of Buffalo in the offering of degree courses.
Similar to the Art School's association with the University at Buffalo, the Art School also became associated with the State College for Teachers in the offering of an art education program.
In 1938, a new wing was added to Clifton Hall, which then housed the Albright Art School, offering more space for more classes.
In 1939, a new information and sales room opened at the west entrance of the 1905 Albright Building.
The Room of Contemporary Art opened on January 4, 1939.
The Art School is officially named the Albright Art School of the Buffalo Fine Arts Academy.
Additional architectural plans designed by E.B. Green were designed in 1943.
New quarters were created for the Education Department on the ground floor of the 1905 Building.
The museum’s new Members’ Room opened at the preview of an exhibition on April 14, 1944.
The Room of Local Art was redecorated on November 4, 1944.
In 1945, an additional new wing was added to Clifton Hall, which then housed the Albright Art School, to offer more space for more classes.
Maintenance funds need to be raised for the sorely needed repairs of the 1905 Building.
Common Council granted the museum sufficient funds to repair the roof and skylights.
Schenk said, “In the era of the automobile, a public building with space to park eight cars is ill-equipped to function popularly.”
Smith said, "The Gallery is, in essence, exactly the same as it was fifty-one years ago, except for the effects of age, soot, and dirt..."
A special Building Committee was appointed by Seymour H. Knox, Jr., President of the BFAA, on November 3, 1955.
If the new addition addressed all of the museum's needs, it was believed that the museum would be better be able to serve the public.
Very little can be accomplished in any field of endeavor without careful planning.
At a meeting on May 8, 1957, the Building Committee voted to approve the final plans presented by architect Paul Schweikher.
On June 3, 1857, the BFAA Board of Directors unanimously approved the architectural plans drawn by Paul Schweikher.
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