Both Marilynn and James Alsdorf considered themselves supporters of early efforts in the field of art restitution. "My late husband, James Alsdorf, was a board member of the International Foundation for Art Research (IFAR), which was created in 1969 to educate the public about problems and issues in the art world," Alsdorf said in a court declaration. "IFAR helped expand the Art Loss Register's data base of lost artworks. The Alsdorf Foundation is currently a financial supporter of IFAR." Adds Chapman, Alsdorf's attorney, "In essence, you're talking about somebody who's very close to the issue" of art recovery and restitution.