In 1864-1866, Hiram Sibley traveled through Europe, in part to negotiate with the Czar of Russia to run a telegraph line across the Bering Strait from Alaska to Russia, taking his wife and daughter with him to join his son, Hiram Watson Sibley, who was already studying abroad.

[1] Emily's schooling and travels during this period were documented in a diary,[2] now in the collection of the Memorial Art Gallery Archives.

[3] Emily Sibley's 1875 diary[4] documents meeting her future husband, Isaac Seymour Averell (Ike), member of a prominent Ogdensburg, New York family.

At some point in the year, the Averell family returned to Rochester, and her son James George (called J.G.)

[6] By early 1878, Ike Averell bought out the previous shareholders of the Bank of Monroe, and became president, with Hiram Sibley on the board of directors.

[10] By the time the family returned in June 1884, Isaac Averell was no longer residing in Rochester and was listed in the Alameda, California city directory.

Upon her return to Rochester, Emily Sibley Averell moved into a new home around the corner from her parents at 11 Prince Street.

"Jimmie" and his sister Belle likely met up with Emily and her family in Europe in 1883, and did return with them on the SS Oregon on June 16, 1884.

University of Rochester president Rush Rhees had been thinking about an art museum on campus as early as 1905.

[37] Watson's donation of the Memorial Art Gallery to the University of Rochester was publicly announced on April 22, 1912.

[39] From its opening on October 8, 1913[40] to her death in 1945,[41] Watson and her husband were dedicated supporters of the Memorial Art Gallery.

They funded an addition to the 1913 building in 1926,[42] made up shortfalls in the Gallery's budget in the years before it had significant endowments, and donated generously from their personal collection as well as purchasing art out of exhibitions.

[43][44] More than 500 objects from Emily and James Sibley Watson, with additions from subsequent family generations, are part of the collection of the Memorial Art Gallery.

Paralleling her interest and involvement with the visual arts was Watson's love of music, which she shared with her family.

Along with George Eastman, Emily Sibley Watson supported young Hochstein's violin studies abroad.