Hardy family provides $2 million gift to propel restoration of iconic KU Natural History Museum exhibit

LAWRENCE — KU alumni Tom and Jan Hardy have provided a $2 million gift to the University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum to fuel preservation efforts for the historic exhibit at the heart of the museum, the Panorama. The 132-year-old exhibit showcases a variety of preserved animal specimens in their habitats, with North American mammals at its center.

The Hardys’ transformational gift is the largest single donation in the museum’s history and will help secure the future of the unique, nearly 360-degree exhibit by providing essential infrastructure and environmental updates critical to an eventual full restoration and preservation of the displays.

“Our motivation was to pick a place where we could — very literally — make a difference,” said Tom Hardy, whose father, a letterman on the KU football team, was the first of his family to attend KU. “My dad enjoyed the exhibit, and he graduated in 1925. It’s more than 100 years old now — it’s time.”

The Hardys, who live in Cincinnati, Ohio, are longtime supporters of the research center and museum and recognized the opportunity to ignite the project by funding some of the larger, unseen needs — HVAC upgrades for better climate control, replacing important behind-the-scenes structures and other measures that will not only stabilize the Panorama, but ensure its future.

“We thought maybe we can grab this one and run with it and make it work,” Tom Hardy said, “because we've really enjoyed it.”

The Panorama was constructed for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair by the museum’s namesake, Lewis Lindsay Dyche, KU naturalist and a former Kansas Fish and Game warden. With support from the Kansas Legislature, Dyche Hall was completed in 1903 to house the popular exhibit, along with the university’s growing scientific collections, which today number approximately 11 million plant, animal and fossil specimens, and 2 million archaeological artifacts. The renowned collections are used by KU researchers and students, as well as scientists in the region and across the world. The museum continues to draw thousands of visitors every year and is often a child’s first introduction to the KU Lawrence campus.

“We are so grateful for the Hardys’ generosity and dedicated service to KU,” said Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. “Their gift ensures this vital KU landmark and educational resource will continue to inspire students and the public for years to come.”

Tom Hardy, a Hoisington native, lived at KU’s Battenfeld Scholarship Hall as a student and initially studied physics. He switched to economics after a University Honors Program advisor suggested he explore a business class. He graduated in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and earned his MBA at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He became a leader in the life insurance industry and since 2002, has been chairman and CEO of Unity Financial Life Insurance.

Jan (Walters) Hardy met Tom at KU while she was also studying economics. She was one of only two women in the major and graduated in 1961. They wed after Tom’s graduation and soon after made their first gift, $150, to the university’s Alumni Association.

“In the earliest years,” Tom Hardy said, “you don't give very much, because you don’t have very much.” Since that time, their service and philanthropy have grown exponentially.

While Tom Hardy’s job took him across the country for many years, the couple have been visitors to the Lawrence campus for decades, in large part due to their service to the university. Tom was a member of the School of Business Dean’s Advisory Board for 30 years. Since 2015, he has shared his expertise with the Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum as a member of its Board of Advisors.

“The Hardys are exemplary and inspiring supporters of our mission,” said Nico Franz, director of the Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. “Their gift will allow us to advance the Dyche Hall Panorama and related public programs to new heights.”

Tom and Jan Hardy’s shared passion for pre-Columbian art led to a conversation with KU Anthropology Professor John Hoopes, who introduced them to the museum’s work. They helped fund an exhibit of pre-Columbian artifacts at the museum and after Tom joined the board, became more involved. Over the years, the Hardys have contributed their business acumen and funded initiatives such as a mobile museum program, which brought the museum’s science outreach programming and specimens to communities across Kansas.

For the Hardys, the Panorama restoration is an opportunity for one of the university’s largest and most unique attractions to shine for future generations.

“We hope people will bring their friends and prospective students,” Tom Hardy said. “It's one of those things that’s a real magnet for people.”

The museum plans to share more details on the restoration project and opportunities for the public’s involvement in the near future.