Lawrason Riggs

Lawrason Riggs (October 17, 1861 – November 22, 1940) was an American businessman, civic leader, and collector of old master prints, active in Baltimore.

He joined the Fifth Regiment of the Maryland National Guard in which he was rapidly promoted to the position of Brigadier General due to his leadership in the Great Baltimore Fire in 1904.

Riggs was instrumental in finding a permanent location for the BMA and bought the Carroll-Thomas mansion at 101 West Monument Street in 1925 that served as the museum until the present building designed by John Russell Pope was completed in 1929.

The fund, which was endowed with $100,000 from the will of Buchanan's niece, Harriet Lane Johnston, was created for the purpose of establishing two monuments to the 15th President of the United States.

[9] The two most-represented artists in the collection are Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt, but many printmakers from America, England, the Netherlands, France, China, Japan, and Italy are also represented.

[11] Lawrason Riggs tended to purchase his prints through the dealers, among them being: Fitz Ray Carrington, Arthur H. Harlow & Co., Frederic K. Kepel & Co., Anderson Galleries, R. Ederheimer, Scott & Fowles Co., and Rudolf Seckel.