Martha Brandt Bolton and Robert Bolton were scholars, collectors, and lifelong students of the world, whose Princeton, NJ, Federal home reflected their curiosity and commitment to intentional collecting. The Boltons cultivated a shared passion for philosophy, the arts, and the material culture of early American history.  

Both taught at Rutgers University for over four decades, where Martha specialized in early modern philosophy and Rob in the study of ancient Greek thought. A Rhodes Scholar and later an honorary citizen of Rhodes, Greece, Rob’s commitment to classical philosophy informed much of the couple’s worldview, while Martha’s time at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princetonanchored their academic lives in a community of scholarship. Experts in their fields, yet endlessly curious, they approached collecting with the same intellectual rigor they brought to their work.  

Their Federal-period house, situated on one of Princeton’s oldest streets, was designed by Charles Steadman, a prominent architect of its era. The Boltons restored the home with remarkable respect for the period: marble sourced from historically appropriate quarries, milk-based paints, and meticulous architectural details returned the house to its late eighteenth-century character. The Boltons collecting followed the same commitments to historical accuracy and rigor, spending decades assembling a collection of furniture, fine and decorative arts. They worked with trusted dealers and auction specialists, including Albert Sack, Kennedy Galleries, William York in New York, and James D. (Don) Didier in New Orleans, close to where Robert’s family roots started. Each piece was chosen not only for its quality and provenance but also for how it contributed to the historical narrative they were building within their home. Beyond their scholarly and collecting pursuits, the Boltons were philanthropists in the performing arts, bringing passion and purpose to every facet of their lives. Their collection reflects this spirit: intelligent, discerning, and deeply connected to the traditions and ideas they loved.