Hotel magnate Eugene Eppley commissioned renowned American artist Grant Wood to paint a mural for the Hotel Montrose in Cedar Rapids, IA, in 1932. When the hotel was sold in 1957, Eppley had the mural, known as “The Fruits of Iowa,” taken down and separated into seven separate panels. He “loaned” the paintings to Coe College, where they remained on display for nearly 20 years. At some point the ownership of the paintings passed from Eppley to the Eppley Foundation. In 1976, while winding up its affairs, the Foundation gave the paintings to the College pursuant to a letter stating that the College “would be their permanent home, hanging on the walls of Stewart Memorial Library.” The letter...