The American Water Color Society held its Thirteenth Annual Exhibition during February 1880 at the National Academy of Design. “The Black and White Room,” as it was identified in the
show catalogue , featured some 130 art works. The etchings shown by New York Etching Club members were highlighted in the catalogue with an asterisk next to each artist’s name. Etchings were shown by NYEC members Albert F. Bellows, Samuel Colman, Frederick S. Church, R. Swain Gifford, Henry Farrer, James Craig Nicoll, James D. Smillie, Kruseman van Elten, Charles A. Vanderhoof, and Dr. Leroy M. Yale. John Henry Hill, whose name appears once with an asterisk, is thus misidentified as a member. Future New York Etching Club members Otto Bacher, J. M. Falconer, Mary Nimmo Moran, Thomas Moran, and Stephen Parrish showed etchings. Prints by Dr. Seymour Haden, Rembrandt, and Whistler were also displayed in the gallery.
The Society of Painter-Etchers was founded by Dr. Francis Seymour Haden—Whistler’s brother-in-law. Their first meeting was on July 31, 1880, with their fourth on December 23, 1880—recognized as the official date of founding. Haden accepted presidency of the organization on that date. At that meeting, he also announced the dates for their Hanover Gallery exhibition as March 14 through May 31, 1881.
The Boston Etching Club was established in February. E. H. Garett, President; and H. R. Burdick, Secretary. Early members: C.H. Turner, F. T. Merrill, C.F. Pierce, W.F. Halsal, F.G. Atwood, H.M. Stephenson, R. M. Bailey , A.B. Shute, W.R. Emerson, J.E. Baker, S. E. Carlson, and J.H. Young.
The Philadelphia Etching Club was founded on May 14. The founders were Stephen James Ferris (Peter Moran’s brother-in-law), Treasurer; Peter Moran, President; Stephen Parrish, Secretary; Joseph Pennell; and Henry Rankin Poore.
The Cincinnati Etching Club formed, with Geo Mclaughlin as its first president.
Interior title page of the 1880 American Water Color Society exhibition catalogue. (Private collection.)
January 12 1880
The regular monthly meeting was held at this date in the President’s studio.
The meeting was called to order at 8.30 P.M. by the President with nine members present.
The minutes of the last monthly meeting were read and approved.
The Committee on Delinquents made an informal report and upon motion by Mr. Reinhart seconded by Gifford Mr. Shirlaw was continued as permanent Committee on Delinquent Members.
Mr. Gifford gave an informal report upon the proposed article in Scribners Magazine, stating that the publishers were willing to proceed with the work as soon as the Club had sufficient material.
Upon motion by Mr. Shirlaw, seconded by Reinhart the report was approved.
The President reported that the Committee on Exhibitions had found that the Reception and Library of the Academy of Design were unfitted for the purpose of holding an exhibition of etchings, but if it were possible to obtain the use of a portion of the South Room
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