| 1924 | First art exhibition at the University of Arizona, is organized by UA professor Katherine Kitt, founder of the UA Art Department. |
| 1933 | Art Gallery is established in the campus library. |
| 1942 | C. Leonard Pfeiffer (1896-1958) promises to give his art collection to UA. A 1940 UA graduate, he sold his stamp collection in order to start collecting contemporary American art. |
| 1951 | 25 Renaissance master art works are lent to UA by Kress Foundation. More than 2000 people attend the exhibition opening. |
| 1954 | Edward Joseph Gallagher, Jr. establishes a memorial collection as a tribute to his son. |
| 1955 | Ground is broken for the new museum building. |
| 1960 | 15th century Altarpiece from Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain is given by Kress Foundation. |
| 1974 | UAMA Ansel Adams’ exhibit plants seeds to establish Center for Creative Photography. |
| 1979 | Start of docent program for volunteer guides. |
| 1979 | Jacques Lipchitz sketches and models are given by Jacques and Yulla Lipchitz Foundation. |
| 1981 | American Alliance of Museums awards accreditation — one of only 12 museums in Arizona to be recognized for highest award of excellence. |
| 1992 | Partners Circle, a community-based friends organization, is established. |
| 2007 | Archive for Visual Arts is founded with gifts of artwork by illustrator Robert McCall. |
I wish that all men with the love of art in their souls would take these words to heart: Help build collections in every corner of our land. – C. Leonard Pfeiffer, the first major donor to the UAMA
Maestro Bartolome, active 15th century, Chaos, 1493
From the Samuel H. Kress Collection
Mark Rothko (1903-1970), Green on Blue, 1956
From the Edward Joseph Gallagher III Memorial Collection
Jacques Lipchitz (1891-1973), Lessons of a Disaster, 1961
From the Jacques and Yulla Lipchitz Foundation
