Date Range

1932-2003

Description Level

Fonds

Creator

Lethbridge Artists’ Club

Physical Description

28 cm of textual records 375 photographs 1 audiocassette 1 collage poster

History Biographical

The Lethbridge Artists’ Club first began when a group of citizens interested in organizing an art exhibition in 1932, held at the YMCA. By 1936, a number of Lethbridge artists decided to create a club to organize regular exhibitions and art classes that were previously offered on an irregular and informal basis. A meeting in October of that year at the home of Anna MacKenzie formalized the creation of the Lethbridge Sketch Club, with Miss Mackenzie serving as president. The club held meetings, classes, annual exhibitions and outings to various sites in southwestern Alberta. Group of Seven member A.Y. Jackson would attend club events and outings while visiting his brother Ernest in Lethbridge. His avant garde landscapes and enthusiasm for on-site sketching provided an influence to members of the Sketch Club in its early years. Further influences on the group were the instructors of the Banff School of Fine Arts, where the Club would send an annual scholarship winner, and the instructors of an annual summer session held in Lethbridge. The most frequent instructor of these sessions was H.G. Glyde of the Technical Institute in Calgary and later the University of Alberta. Over the years membership in the club grew and the club attained a more permanent space at the former Bowman School through a favorable agreement with Lethbridge School District # 51. When the building passed to the City of Lethbridge in 1963, City Council agreed to maintain the terms of the agreement the Club had with the School District. This agreement provided a basis for the establishment of the Bowman Arts Centre, as other arts and crafts groups and the Historical Society were also offered space in the building and classes were offered daily by a variety of groups of the Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge. The Club continued to organize regular classes, workshops, demonstrations, and outings and was able to present two exhibitions annually of works by its members. Sometime after 2002 the club was renamed the Lethrbidge Artists’ Club.

Language

English

Scope and Content

Fonds documents the founding of the Lethbridge Sketch Club and events organized by the club including exhibits, classes, demonstrations, workshops and outings. Records include minutes, correspondence, exhibit lists, club histories, photographs, and guest books. File list 2013.1021/1 - Early minutes and correspondence; 2 photos; 1932 2013.1021/2 - Sketch Club Minute Book and Cashbook; 1944-1949 2013.1021/3 – Cash book; 1950-1954 2013.1021/4 – Minutes of Lethbridge Sketch Club; 1951-1966 2013.1021/5 – Registrations 1958; 1958-1959 2013.1021/6 - Membership Art Display May 2nd 1966; 1966 2013.1021/7 – Names of Artists in Competetion; 1966-1970 2013.1021/8 – Societies Act Information; 1980-1984 2013.1021/9 – Newspaper clippings; 1959-1999 2013.1021/10 – Club history and exhibitions; 1981-1996 2013.1021/11 – Club history; 1947-1996 2013.1021/12 – Lethbridge Sketch Club guest book; 1948-1951 2013.1021/13 – Visitors; 1967-1968 2013.1021/14 – Lethbridge Sketch Club Guests; 1988-1988 2013.1021/15 – Lethbridge Sketch Club Guests; 1989-1990 2013.1021/16 – Guests; 1990-1991 2013.1021/17 – Guests; 1991 2013.1021/18 – Guests of the Lethbridge Sketch Club; 1992-1994 2013.1021/19 – Guest Book; 1994-1998 2013.1021/20 – Photo album; 233 photographs; 1986-1992 2013.1021/21 – Photo album; 66 photos; 1992 2013.1021/22 – Photo album; 1987-2003 2013.1021/23 – A History of the Lethbridge Sketch Club; 1 audiocassette; 1989 2013.1021/24 – History of the Lethbridge Sketch Club; 1 collage poster; [N.D.] 2 copies 2013.1021/25 - Advertising clippings from papers; 1998-1999 2013.1021/26 - Club executive members; 1943-1990 2013.1021/27 – Memoriams of past members; 3 photos; 2000-2003 2013.1021/28 – Archival misc.; 1942-1989 2013.1021/29 – Life members; 1970 2013.1021/30 – Correspondence; 1957-1961 2013.1021/31 – Classes; 1956-1957 2013.1021/32 – Yates will; [196-] 2013.1021/33 – Newspaper clippings; 1966-1998

Accession No.

20131021

Collection

Archive

Less detail