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Archives of American Art
National Watercolor Society records
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.natiwate
- Creators:
-
National Watercolor Society (U.S.)
- Dates:
-
1920-1995
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
3.6 Linear feet
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
Articles of incorporation, newsletters, artist's biographies, slides for exhibitions (1980-1990) and rental slides (1990-1995), pamphlets and programs (1954-1995), six scrapbooks (1921-1994) containing printed materials and some with photographs and artists' resumes, three Presidents' books (1922-1995), a guidebook, group portraits from 1949 and 1951, and NWS newsletters documenting the history and members of the National Watercolor Society (formerly the California Watercolor Society).
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Art society; Los Angeles, Calif. The California Watercolor Society was founded in Los Angeles in 1920. The organization continued for fifty-five years as the CWS. In 1975 the name was changed to the National Watercolor Society (NWS). In the early years the organization was dominated by members of the California School, the group of West Coast painters whose most prominent representative was Millard Sheets. These artists developed a regionalist style that focused on California landscape and, less frequently, the urban scene. The approach and aesthetic represented by Millard Sheets and others greatly influenced the members of the Society for years, and as a result the organization became increasingly viewed as conservative and even decorative.
Administration
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 1995 by the Society's club historian and secretary Rosemary MacBird. Three additional scrapbooks were donated in 1997 by Society historian Ed Gill.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Keywords
Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
---|---|---|---|
Watercolor painting -- United States | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Watercolor painting -- California | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Arts organizations | Function | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Scrapbooks | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Watercolorists -- United States | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Watercolorists -- California | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Sheets, Millard, 1907-1989 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
California Watercolor Society | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions