Repository: Heinz History Center
Title: Records of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh
Collection Number: MSS #399
Extent: 4.5 linear feet (10 boxes and 9 shelf volumes)
Date: 1910-2003
Date: 1984-2000
Abstract: The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) was founded in 1910 with the purpose to "foster a love of the fine arts and to inculcate a true appreciation of what Pittsburgh artists do for the advancement of art." The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh is the second oldest association for artists in the United States, after the Copley Society in Boston, MA. These records include exhibition catalogs, gallery announcements, minutes of the AAP Board of Directors, news clippings, scrapbooks, and materials pertaining to their seventy-fifth anniversary.
Language: The material in this collection is in English.
Author: This guide to the collection was originally prepared by Christine Crame on February 21, 2004. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in Winter,2004.
Sponsor: This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
Publisher: Heinz History Center
Address: 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh

The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) was founded in 1910 with the purpose to "foster a love of the fine arts and to inculcate a true appreciation of what Pittsburgh artists do for the advancement of art." Upon its first exhibition, the AAP earned the title, " The Popular Salon of the People." As stated in, The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh: 1910-1985, The First Seventy-Five Years, its primary goal is to bring its members' work before the public eye for reasons of education and recognition.

The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh is the second oldest association for artists in the United States, after the Copley Society in Boston, MA. Its first group exhibition was held in 1910 at Pittsburgh's Grand Opera House and timed to coincide with the Carnegie Museum of Art's Carnegie International exhibits. In 1911, the organization was invited to hold the event at the museum and the tradition continued until 2001. The annual exhibitions have attracted 50,000 visitors each year during the four weeks the exhibition runs. In 2002 the annual exhibition was moved to the Andy Warhol Museum and in 2003 it was held at the University of Pittsburgh's Frick Fine Arts Building.

The AAP continued to exhibit works every year in spite of war and economic struggle, but also endured through prosperous times. The organization survived through World War I and the Great Depression. Artists continued to paint, but more importantly they continued to exhibit through the AAP. According to the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh website, www.aapgh.org, this organization was incorporated to a non- profit, tax-exempt educational organization February 27, 1930. The AAP continued to exhibit during World War II and during the post-war. It continuously integrated itself into the mainstream of the art world and made a name in Pittsburgh and the United States.

In 1985, the AAP celebrated its Seventy-fifth Anniversary. This event involved the city of Pittsburgh, as it was declared that the first week of September in 1985 to be "The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Week." Galleries throughout the region participated in this celebration. A history publication was created in honor of the Anniversary called The Associated Artists of Pittsburgh: 1910-1985, The First Seventy-Five Years. The Anniversary was a full community event.

As of 2004, the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh consists of over 500 members. They are all artists of various mediums who are residents over 18 who also reside in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, or Ohio within a 150 mile radius of Pittsburgh. Those who are admitted must submit a body of quality work that is judged by the governing 12 member AAP Board of Directors. The exhibits are judged by a jury, distinguished artists, museum directors, and art critics and scholars. Many awards are presented to the winners, made possible by various contributions. Past members have included well known artists such as Andy Warhol, Samuel Rosenberg, John Kane, and Louise Pershing. It now works in connection with the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

The AAP website gives important information about what it means to be a member of this organization. Many members of the Associated Artists have been and are educators at universities and colleges, secondary and elementary schools, and community classrooms. AAP members often jury exhibitions throughout the Tri-State area, lead workshops and exhibit throughout the United States and Europe.

Scope and Content Notes

The records include exhibition catalogs, gallery announcements, minutes of the AAP Board of Directors, news clippings, scrapbooks, and materials pertaining to their seventy-fifth anniversary. These records primarily give a glimpse into how the AAP evolved and gained publicity, how the administration functioned, and what artworks have been displayed and auctioned since its conception in 1910.

Arrangement

Six series have been designated for the records of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh. Series include Exhibition Catalogs, Gallery Announcements, Minutes of the AAP Board of Directors, News Clippings, Scrapbooks, and Seventy-Fifth Anniversary.

The records of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) are housed in 13 archival boxes and 9 shelf volumes.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

These items came in one accession on November 28, 2003.

Accession # 2003.0181 Gift of Anna Marie Sninsky, former Executive Director.

Preferred Citation

Records of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 1910-2003, (Bulk 1984-2000), MSS #399, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Christine Crame on February 21, 2004.

Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Christine Crame on March 8, 2004.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.

Subjects

Other Subjects

Art, Modern -- Twentieth Century -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Art, American -- Twentieth Century -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Art Societies -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Exhibitions -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Artists -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh

Container List

Series I Exhibition Catalogs (1910-2003)

Scope and Content Notes

This series consists of Exhibition Catalogs (1910-2003) with some as bound volumes and others in individual pamphlet form. Contained in this series is the first two exhibition catalogs of the organization that includes lists of members and artwork at the exhibition as well as date and location. The material progresses by exhibition year showing the development of the organization and how the art world in Pittsburgh changed throughout the years.

1910, 1911, 1912, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920

Containers: box 1, volume 1

1923, 1924

1927, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934

1935

1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940

Containers: box 2, volume 5

1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946

1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952

1950, 1951

1952

1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959

Containers: box 3, volume 8

1953, 1954

1955, 1956

1957, 1958

1959

1960, 1961

1962, 1963

1964, 1965

1966, 1967

Containers: box 4, folder 1

1968

1969

1970, 1971, 1972, 1973

1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979

1980, 1981, 1982, 1983

1984, 1985

1986, 1987, 1988

1990, 1991

1992, 1993, 1994

1995, 1996

Containers: box 5, folder 1

1997

1998, 1999

2000, 2001

2002, 2003

Series II Gallery Announcements 1981-1995, (bulk 1984-1989)

Scope and Content Notes

From 1981-1995 there were numerous announcements that were designed, distributed, and attended with AAP involvement. The printing company that created these announcements would request information about what it would create. A sample of these request forms are in this series. Some of the gallery announcements were printed by Richardson Printing located in Marietta, OH. The AAP and Richardson Printing would work together to create acceptable announcements that would be sent throughout the region.

Throughout the 1980s, the AAP had continuously distributed gallery announcements and in 1986, a announcement design won an award. This was the "Visual Fiction" gallery announcement from Ilene Winn-Lederer. This series continues into the 1990s, but the bulk of material is from the mid-1980s. This series includes numerous artists' names and galleries they had exhibited. Some of the gallery announcements were not dated and there is no available record of their use. These are placed in a miscellaneous folder at the end of the series.

Request Information, 1983

Richardson Printing, 1983

1981

1983

1984

1985

1986

Gallery Announcement Award, 1986

1987

Seventy-Fifth and Seventy-Eighth Annual Exhibition

1988-1989

1993,1995

Miscellaneous Announcements, n.d.

Series III Minutes, the AAP Board of Directors (1921, 1929-1945, and 1986-1993)

Scope and Content Notes

Minutes from the Board of Directors from the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh (AAP) are contained in this series, documenting the administrative function of the organization. A 1921 AAP book of its Constitution and Bylaws is in this series. There are two distinct sets of minutes; one from 1929-1945 and another from 1986-1993. There are no available minutes from other years in this collection. The minutes are arranged chronologically.

1921 Constitution and Bylaws

Containers: box 6, folder 1

April, 1927 - April, 1929

April, 1929 - January, 1930

March, 1930 - January, 1932

April, 1932 - February, 1934

May, 1934 - February, 1937

March, 1937 - May, 1940

May, 1940 - May, 1941

August, 1941 - June, 1942

June, 1942 - June, 1944

September, 1944 - April, 1945

May, 1986 - December, 1986

January, 1987 - June, 1987

July, 1987 - December, 1987

January, 1988 - June, 1988

November, 1988 - December, 1988

January, 1989 - May, 1989

June, 1989 - December, 1989

January, 1990 - June, 1990

July, 1990 - December, 1990

January, 1991 - May, 1991

May, 1991 - September, 1991

August, 1991 - December, 1991

February, 1992 - May, 1992

May, 1992 - December, 1992

January, 1993 - July, 1993

September, 1993 - December, 1993

Miscellaneous Correspondence

Series IV News Clippings (1986-2000)

Scope and Content Notes

News articles that have mention of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh are in this fourth series. From 1986-2000, the AAP has received recognition in newspapers and other published media. Specific artists that are prevalent in the AAP that are mentioned in these documents have been placed into separate folders by the year they were published. These documents include releases such as "Warhol Remembered"(1987), "Constance Merriman: Artist of the Year" (1990), The "Chrome/osome" exhibit (1997), "The Art of Collaboration" exhibit (1998), The "Belfast Delegation" (2000), and the exhibit, "I Can Still Quilt Without My Glasses" (2000)

1986

Containers: box 7, folder 1

1987

"Warhol Remembered", 1987

1988

1989

1990

"Constance Merriman: Artist of the Year", 1990

1993

"Chrome/osome", 1997

1998

"The Art of Collaboration", 1998

January - August, 1999

August - Sepember, 1999

January - March, 2000

"Belfast Delegation", 2000

"I Can Still Quilt Without My Glasses", 2000

June - December, 2000

Series V Scrapbooks(1946-1962)

Scope and Content Notes

The Scrapbooks for the AAP are housed as nine shelf volumes. They document news articles and publicity of the organization from 1946-1962. Information found in these scrapbooks can include names of artists and exhibitions that took place during this time. The documents have been kept in their original scrapbook bindings and have been wrapped for preservation.

1946, 1947, 1948

1949

1952-1953

1955

1956

1957

1958-1959

1959-1962

1962

Series VI Seventy-Fifth Anniversary (1984-1985)

Scope and Content Notes

This sixth series is contained in four boxes and is based on the activities that took place for the celebration of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Seventy-Fifth Anniversary in 1985. This series is divided in alphabetical order into three divisions: Artworks, History and Planning. The artworks available are copies of artworks used for the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary gallery. They were kept in their original order. The History was composed through extensive research and compiled into bound books separated by decade. Included in this history are news clippings and other relevant historical information about the organization throughout its existence. There are drafts and the final publication of the AAP history book, The First Seventy-Five Years included in this series as well as information regarding the researchers and writers. The third division in this series is the Planning of the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary. Listed alphabetically are important features to the development of the celebration, including the community participation, design of the Seventy-Fifth logo, funding, invitations, news clippings, "The Pittsburgh Connection," and publicity. "The Pittsburgh Connection" was a joint exhibition in 1985 with the AAP and the Dunfermline Art Club for Andrew Carnegie's 150th Anniversary.

Art Works

Containers: box 8, folder 1-5

History

History Book

Researchers and Writers

Research and Archive Material: 1910-1985

Research and Archive Material: 1910-1985 draft

1920-1939

1940s

1950s

Containers: box 9, folder 1

1960s

1970s

1980s

Final Publication:, 1985

Planning

Community Participation

Containers: box 10, folder 1

Design

Funding

Invitations

News Clippings

"The Pittsburgh Connection"

Publicity

Guide to the Records of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 1910-2003 (Bulk 1984-2000)

Arrangement

History of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh

Scope and Content Notes

Arrangement

Conditions Governing Access

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Preferred Citation

Processing Information

Conditions Governing Use

Subjects

Other Subjects

Container List

Scope and Content Notes

Scope and Content Notes

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Scope and Content Notes

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