The Collection was established by Dr. August C. Mazza and his late wife Aleda Pfost Mazza, both graduates of The University of Findlay, as part of the University’s Centennial Celebration in the fall of 1982. From this initial donation of the Mazza’s for the first four works of art, the collection has grown to over 2,300 original illustrations.  The art in the museum spans well over 100 years with the earliest piece having been executed in 1884.  The idea originated with Dr. Jerry Mallett, the founder and director of the Mazza Museum, who desired to have a gallery where art from children’s picture books would be taken seriously.

Mission Statement
The mission of the Mazza Museum at The University of Findlay is to promote literacy through its educational programs and to collect, exhibit & preserve orginal art from children's books.

• The Mazza Museum is located in the Virginia B. Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion on The University of Findlay Campus at 1000 North Main Street, Findlay, Ohio 45840.  

• School tours can be scheduled Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. until noon.  

• The maximum number of students for a tour is 50.   

• The maximum number for an activity is 40 students.  Optional art activities are available for grades 1- 5.  

• School tours are one hour and art activities are a half hour in length.  

• The fee for a docent school tour is two dollars per student and the fee for an art activity is one dollar per student.
  
  
• Please allow at least four weeks advance notice from the time of the request to the date of the tour.

From Northern Indiana, Chicago
Indiana Toll Road (I-80, I-90 East) to Ohio Turnpike
Ohio Turnpike East to I-75 South at Toledo
I-75 South to Findlay, Exit 159
Left (East) on US 224 
Right on Broad Ave.
Left on College St.
(approximately 4 hours from Chicago)  

What to Expect on a Mazza School Tour

During the school year, the museum is buzzing with children on school field trips.  They arrive at the Virginia B. Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion and meet the head docent (art museum tour guide) for their tour.  She welcomes them in the Great Hall where they see the cascading waterfall.  Some children may want to throw coins into the fountain and make a wish.  Then the head docent escorts them through the galleria, past the exciting original art, to the amphitheater.  There students view a short introductory video that answers questions such as “Why is the Museum called Mazza?” and “What was the first artwork in the Museum?” and “How does the Museum protect its artwork?”

Every tour has a special focus and goal.  The head docent may instruct the students to look for award winning art, or listen for new art terms.  The Highlights tour is a discussion of a few of the artworks from each of the teaching units.  The teaching units include such exhibits as a printmaking exhibit, the Mother Goose Corner, a borders section, the book-making process, an historical art gallery, and an art media exhibit.  Other tours may be scheduled which focus on Awards, Ohio Artists, Oops!, Multiculturalism, History of Children’s Illustrations, or Book Development.

The children circle around each of the five galleries with their docent.  The docent shares stories about the art and the artists, and asks questions that encourage the children to think critically about the artwork.  During tours, docents introduce students to a variety of art styles and techniques.  When the bell rings, the tour is almost over and the students return to the amphitheater to discuss what they have seen and learned.  Their enthusiasm is the reward for our volunteer docents.

After the tour, some groups opt to have an art activity.  The students get to use the ideas they saw in the galleria to produce their own artwork. 

The teachers return an evaluation after the tour is completed.  One of the frequent comments is that the tour was not long enough.  We always prefer to leave people wanting to come back for more.

Tips For Students To Enjoy Their Mazza Visit
Take time to really look at the artwork

• Don’t hurry
• Please stay with your group
• Don’t try to see everything in one visit

Understand that our artwork needs to be protected

• The lights are kept low
• A special kind of mat and glass cover the artwork
• Touching the artwork is not permitted

Become an art detective

• Look for different types of lines
• Look for different kinds of colors
• Look for different shapes

Learn to recognize art labels

• Art labels tell us interesting facts about the artwork
• Observe the sample label below