Delaware Antiques Show 2021

John Andrew Herdeg John Herdeg was a longtime supporter of the decorative arts. He served on Winterthur’s Board of Trustees for fifty years, including as Chair of the Board from 1977 to 1986. He passed away on June 27, 2021. John shared his love for American history and eighteenth-century decorative arts with his wife Judy, with whom he committed his life to collecting, research, and philanthropic leadership in the field. Winterthur is proud to have named John and Judy Herdeg as this year’s Honorary Chairs of the Delaware Antiques Show. The Herdegs were instrumental in bringing the Delaware Antiques Show to Winterthur, serving in various leadership roles for more than forty years. In 1984, John and Judy became founding members of the Henry Francis du Pont Collectors Circle, co-chairing the collections-focused donor group from 1997 to 2003. The Herdegs’ philanthropic commitment to the decorative arts extended beyond Winterthur. John served as trustee at Historic Deerfield, Inc., in Massachusetts and president of the 1103 Market Street Foundation, a public charity dedicated to preserving the historic mansion that today is the Wilmington Club. He also served as a trustee and executive committee member at the Woodlawn Trustees, Inc. He was an active member of the Walpole Society, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the American Antiquarian Society, and the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Delaware. John authored several scholarly articles, including “Son of Whom? A Collector’s Journey” and “The Story of a Serendipitous Find,” as well as a forthcoming book, The Stories They Tell…from the Herdeg Collection (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Fall 2021). John and Judy’s support for Winterthur well exceeds their leadership. Their generosity is reflected in the more than 150 museum objects and numerous accessioned and promised gifts to the museum and library. In September, John (posthumously) and Judy Herdeg received the Henry Francis du Pont Award, which recognizes individuals who have made contributions of national significance to the knowledge, preservation, and enjoyment of American decorative arts, architecture, landscape design, and gardens. — 5 —