Susan (“Sue”) Serrott White Memorial Lecture: Appraising America: Stories, Surprises, and Hidden Treasures

Sunday, June 14 | 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. | GlasSalon

You’ve seen them evaluate remarkable finds on national television. Now they’re bringing those stories to Toledo. Known to millions for assessing America’s hidden treasures on a beloved, long running PBS appraisal series, Alasdair Nichol, Debra J. Force, and Nigel Freeman have spent decades uncovering the histories behind everything from unexpected attic discoveries to record setting sales. Their careers have been anything but ordinary.

In this lively and revealing conversation, they will reflect on the paths that led them into the art world, share unforgettable discoveries that still surprise them, and offer rare insight into the instincts, expertise, and split second judgments behind every appraisal. In celebration of America250, many of the stories will spotlight American fine and decorative arts, illuminating the objects and histories that continue to shape our national story. Moderated by the Toledo Museum of Art’s Director of Curatorial Affairs, Dr. Anna Marley, this special event promises behind the scenes perspective, compelling storytelling, and a few artful surprises you will not want to miss.

Attendees are invited to enjoy the stories and insights—please do not bring objects for appraisal.

About the Speakers:

Alasdair Nichol brings more than 40 years of expertise in the fine art auction world, pairing a scholar’s eye with the quick wit of a seasoned auctioneer. Born in Edinburgh and trained as a painter and printmaker at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen, he later earned his Master’s degree from Ulster University in Belfast, with his own artwork exhibited internationally. He began his auction career in 1984 and went on to lead major fine art departments in the United Kingdom and the United States, ultimately serving as Chairman of Freeman’s, America’s oldest auction house, where he guided extraordinary growth and record breaking sales. A trusted voice in the field, he has appraised treasures for millions of viewers on a beloved long running PBS series, conducted countless high profile charity auctions, and lectured widely at museums, universities, and cultural institutions around the world. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the National Trust for Scotland USA and holds leadership roles with the Appraisers Association of America and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Based in New York City, he has recently returned to his studio practice, bringing his lifelong devotion to art full circle.

Debra J. Force is a leading authority on American paintings, drawings, and sculpture from the 18th through the 20th centuries, known for her discerning eye and deep scholarly grounding. A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, she earned her Master of Arts degree and completed doctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania before becoming Director of the CIGNA Museum and Art Collection in Philadelphia, where she stewarded an exceptional corporate collection of historic and contemporary American art. She went on to senior leadership roles at Christie’s in New York, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President and Head of the American Paintings Department, and later directed major New York galleries before founding Debra Force Fine Art in 1999. Through her gallery, she organizes exhibitions, participates in premier art fairs, and provides appraisal and advisory services to collectors nationwide. A familiar face to millions as a longtime specialist appraiser on a celebrated PBS treasure hunting series produced in Boston, she also serves in leadership roles across the field, including with the ADAA Foundation and The Winter Show, and has held board positions with Ohio Wesleyan University and the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution.

Nigel Freeman is Head of Fine Art and Vice President at Swann Auction Galleries, where he also leads the African American Art and Contemporary Art departments with vision and authority. After earning his MFA from Columbia University and his BA from Brown University, he entered the auction world in 1997 and has since helped shape it in lasting ways. In 2006, he founded Swann’s pioneering African American Art department, creating a powerful platform for artists and collectors alike and overseeing landmark single owner sales, including the estate of Dr. Maya Angelou and the celebrated collections of Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company and Johnson Publishing Company, the latter achieving Swann’s first white glove auction. Since 2014, he has also shared his expertise with national audiences as an art appraiser on a beloved PBS series dedicated to uncovering the stories and value behind remarkable objects.

Anna O. Marley, Ph.D., is moderating this panel and Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Toledo Museum of Art and a distinguished scholar of American art and material culture from the colonial era through 1945. She holds degrees from Vassar College, the University of Southern California, and the University of Delaware, and previously served as Chief of Curatorial Affairs and the Kenneth R. Woodcock Curator of Historical American Art at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. A dynamic curator and author, she has organized numerous nationally touring exhibitions and published widely on American art. A former Advisory Board member of the Journal of the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, former Co-Chair of the Association for Historians of American Art, alum of the 2008 Attingham Summer School, and 2020 Fellow of the prestigious Center for Curatorial Leadership, she is a recognized leader in the field of American fine and decorative arts.

About the Series:

The Susan (“Sue”) Serrott White Memorial Lecture in Decorative Arts and Design History, presented by the Toledo Museum of Art, is made possible through an annual gift from the James F. White, Jr. Family in loving memory of Susan (“Sue”) Serrott White, wife of James F. White, Jr.

Longtime TMA Ambassador and the group’s youngest president from 1978-1979, Susan “Sue” White’s charming personality and love of art graced the Toledo Museum of Art galleries for nearly four decades. Sue attended The Ohio State University graduating with a bachelor’s degree in education. Her educational experience and interest in art and color led her to become an accomplished interior designer during her lifetime. Sue’s designs can be seen in residential and commercial buildings all over the country.