C.A. Seward
1884 - 1939
The Prairie Print Makers did not invent a new concept when they held their first formal meeting in 1930. They were following a long tradition of artists banding together to create a multi-faceted support system for themselves. Through the group they could share resources for material suppliers as well as inspiration. They could also find solutions for technical problems and perhaps most importantly spend time with others who truly understood their passion.
In his 3 part series on collecting prints written for The Western Magazine of Art - Community Arts and Crafts, Seward had encouraged new collectors to join these prints societies as associate, non-artist, members as a means of access to information about printmakers.
American Print Societies
1866 French Etching Club, NYC
1877 New York Etchers Club, NYC
1880s Boston Etching Club
1880s Brooklyn Scratchers Club
1880s Philadelphia Soc. of Etchers
1881 Society of Painter-Etchers, NYC
1888 Society of American Etchers
1909 Needle Club, Chicago inc. in
1910 as Chicago Society of Etchers
1912 California Society of Etchers, SF
1913 New York Society of Etchers
1914 Printmakers of Los Angeles
1915 Print Club of Philadelphia
1916 New York Society of Etchers becomes Brooklyn Society of Etchers
1917 Painter-Gravers of America
1921 Printmakers of Los Angeles becomes Printmakers Society of California
1924 Cincinnati Print & Drawing Club
1928 Honolulu Printmakers
1928 Northwest Printmakers Society
1930 Prairie Print Makers
1930 American Society of Print Collectors, Ohio State University
1930 Print Club of Rochester
1931 Buffalo Print Club
1931 Haden Etching Club
1932 Syracuse Print Club
1932 Brooklyn Society of Etchers becomes Society of American Etchers
1932 Woodcut Society of Kansas City
1933 Society of Washington DC Etchers
1934 Indiana Society of Print Makers
1934 Washington Etchers
1935 Southern Printmakers Society, Mt Airy, Georgia
1935 Dallas - Print Club
1937 Lone Star Printmakers
1940 Princeton Print Club
1940-41 Friends of Contemporary Prints
abt 1945 Iowa Print Group
1947 Boston Printmakers
1952 Society of American Etchers becomes Society of American Graphic Artists (SAGA)
1955 Bay Printmakers
1962 Los Angeles Printmakers Society
1968 California Society of Etchers & Bay Printmakers merge & form California Society of Printmakers
1972 Southern Graphics Council
1991 The Print Club of New York
1992 American Print Alliance
Printmaking Groups and Societies
Below is a transcription of Seward’s invitation to become a member of The Canadian Society of Graphic Art
(Letterhead - The Canadian Society of Graphic Art, Leonard Hutchinson, President)
(no date) ca. 1930, prior to 1931.
109 East 19th St.
Mt. Hamilton, Ont.
Canada
Dear Mr. Seward:
I am sorry not to have supported your exhibitions of late, but ill health has interfered with my activities.
However not that recovery is on it’s way the printmaking will go on as before.
Your unanimous election to our society was very pleasing to me, and in the future I hope to see much of your work, which will, I am sure be enjoyed by our lithographers here.
Enclosed please find my dues for the current year.
Yours fraternally
Leonard Hutchinson
