Title: UW-Milwaukee Dept. of Art and Design Records
Inclusive Dates: 1897-2018

Creator:

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dept. of Art and Design. Office of the Chairman

Call Number: UWM Archival Collection 87

Quantity:

• 4.6 cubic ft. (6 boxes)
• 702 digital files (6.65 GB)

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department

Archival Location:

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Abstract:

Records of the Department of Art and Design, which began life as the Wisconsin School of Art before being absorbed by the Wisconsin State Normal School and eventually becoming the Department of Art. Included are correspondence, faculty and committee minutes, scrapbooks, and exhibition planning materials. The collection also includes documentation of the Paintbox Art Center, the Works Progress Administration Handicraft Project, and activities of the Arts Students' League around the turn of the 20th Century.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmac0087

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Activity in art education at UW-Milwaukee's predecessor institutions dates to the creation of the Art Students' League in 1894. In 1907, the League became the Wisconsin School of Art and moved its base of operations to a studio rented in the Wisconsin State Normal School building and in 1911, the Wisconsin School of Art was absorbed into the Wisconsin State Normal School and the name changed to School of Fine and Applied Arts of the State Normal School, making it an official department. Later, the name was changed to the School of Arts, then to Art Department, which in 1924 became the Division of Art Education, and finally, the Department of Art and Art Education. From 1956, the year of the creation of UWM, to 1962, the Department of Art reported to the School of Education. In 1962, the department became part of the newly created School of Fine Arts.

In 1999, the Department of Art changed its name to the Department of Visual Art to highlight its focus on "essentially ocular traditions and experiences." In 2009, the department changed its name again to the Department of Art and Design to better reflect all areas of concentration within the department.

Department of Art Chairs

1956-1959	Robert Schellin
1959-1962	George Goundie
1962-1963	Burton Potterveld
1963-1964	Helmut Summ
1964-1968	Howard C. Schroedter
1966	George Goundie, Acting
1968-1969	Laurence Rathsack
1969-1972	William H. Smith
1972-1975	Rolf Hickman
1975-1978	Howard C. Schroedter
1978-1980	Anthony Stoeveken
1980-1983	Howard C. Schroedter
1983-1985	William H. Smith
1985-1989	Leslie Loomis Vansen
1989-1991	Stephen Samerjan
1991-1994	James Peters
1994-1998	Richard Zauft
1998-1999	Lane Hall

Department of Visual Art Chairs

1999-2001	Lane Hall
2002-2004	Leslie Loomis Vansen
2004-2005	Pamela Schermer
2005-2007	Leslie Loomis Vansen
2007-2009	Lee Ann Garrison

Department of Art and Design Chairs

2009-2013	Lee Ann Garrison
2013-2015	Yevgenia Kaganovich
2015-	Kyoung Ae Cho

The records in the collection largely consist of correspondence, faculty and committee minutes, scrapbooks, and exhibition planning materials. Correspondence is between department faculty and the chair and the dean of the School of Fine Arts as well as the dean of the School of Education prior to 1962. Committee minutes document appointment of faculty positions, department curricula, and policy and public relations. Files include documentation of the Paintbox Art Center, an inner-city community center which was co-sponsored by the UWM School of Fine Arts, and the University Extension and grants from Title One of the Higher Education Act.

Files pre-dating 1956 mainly document the activity of the Art Students' League, the organization which preceded the Art Department of the Wisconsin State Normal School. Art Students' League materials include class catalogs, student rosters, and news items. Also included are several issues (1934-1937) of the Vermilion Dachshund, books of woodcut prints published annually by art students of the Milwaukee State Teachers College, a predecessor institution of UWM, in the mid-1930s. Also of interest are files relating to the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Handicraft Project (1935-1943), which provided jobs for art graduates of the Milwaukee State Teachers College.

The files are organized alphabetically by subject, then chronologically.

Citation Guide for Primary Sources

• UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts Records. UWM Archival Collection 81.

Access Restrictions

The executive committee minutes and other meeting materials are restricted under UWM Personnel File Policy S-42. Access is regulated by Section III. A.2 and III. A.3.

There are no access restrictions on the remaining materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law.

Use Restrictions

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

Acquisition Information

An unknown individual transferred the collection to the Archives prior to 1989.

Processing Information

Bill Jackson processed the collection at the Archives in August 1994. Karen Bjork added the educational series in bookbinding to the collection in January 2004. The children's music book, Come and Sing, was transferred to the Curriculum Library.

In 2013, Brad Houston revised the box numbering to correct a labeling error. Art Students' League artwork was moved to Box 6.

Shiraz integrated the digital files into the collection in April 2020.

UWM Archival Collection 87	Records, 1897-2018 Physical Description: 4.6 cubic ft. (6 boxes); 543 digital files (51.4 MB)
Box   1 Folder   1	Account Book, 1911-1915
	An Adventure of Franz the Puppet, Children's Book, 1937 View selections from the folder here.
Electronic Folder     \Box01\   Folder31\	Digital Physical Description: 15 digital files (2.08 GB)  Scope and Content Note: Digitized sample of folder
Box   1 Folder   31	Physical
Box   1 Folder   2	Appointments Committee, 1962-1965
Box   1 Folder   3	Art Controversy, 1940
Box   1 Folder   4	Art Education Committee, 1942-1967
	Art Students' League
Box   6	Artwork, 1897-1905
Box   1 Folder   5	By-Laws and Official Business, 1935-1956
Box   1 Folder   6	Catalogs, 1903-1911
Box   3 Folder   1	Chargebook, 1904-1911
Box   3 Folder   2	Charter, 1907-1969
Box   1 Folder   7	Correspondence, 1931-1971
Box   1 Folder   8	Exhibition Planning, 1907-1958
Box   3 Folder   3	News Items, 1937-1946
Box   1 Folder   9	Record, 1900-1915
Box   1 Folder   10	Record, 1930-1939
Box   1 Folder   11	Art Tours of Europe, 1955-1967
Box   1 Folder   12	Arts and Mankind Class, 1968-1969
Box   3 Folder   4	Attendance Book, 1906-1912
Box   1 Folder   13	Attendance Book, 1911-1924
Box   1 Folder   14	Bachelor of Education Degree Application, 1926
Box   1 Folder   15	Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art, Submajor in Photography, Proposal, 1976
	Block Prints, Books, 1938, undated View selections from the folder here.
Electronic Folder     \Box03\   Folder05\	Digital Physical Description: 26 digital files (474 MB)  Scope and Content Note: Digitized sample of folder
Box   3 Folder   5	Physical
Box   1 Folder   16	Brochures, 1965-1977
Box   1 Folder   17	Building Committee, 1963-1964
Box   1 Folder   18	Capital Expenditures Committee, 1957-1967
Box   1 Folder   19	Committee on Counseling and Guidance of Undergraduate, Minutes, 1962
Box   1 Folder   20	Correspondence, 1915-1930
Box   1 Folder   21-30	Correspondence, 1933-1950
Box   2 Folder   1	Correspondence, 1951-1953
Box   2 Folder   2-5	Correspondence, 1958-1970
Electronic Folder     \Course Action Requirements, 2013-2014\	Course Action Requirements, 2013-2014 Physical Description: 18 digital files (1.44 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Course Syllabi, 2012-2015\	Course Syllabi, 2012-2015 Physical Description: 42 digital files (8.03 MB)
Box   2 Folder   6	Curatorship of Art Program, Progress Report, 1962
Box   2 Folder   7	Curriculum Committee, 1963-1969
Box   2 Folder   8	Department History, 1927-1960
Box   2 Folder   9	Design, 1976
Box   2 Folder   10	Design Concentration Proposal, 1975-1976
Box   2 Folder   11	Door County Cultural Center Committee, 1960-1961
Box   3 Folder   6	Drawings, undated
Box   2 Folder   12	Edward Steichen Visit, 1957
Box   5	Educational Series, Bookbinding, undated
	Executive Committee Meetings Access Restrictions: Materials are restricted under UWM Personnel File Policy S-42. Access is regulated by Section III. A.2 and III. A.3.
Box   2 Folder   13	1976-1977
Electronic Folder     \Executive Committee Meetings, 2012-2018 - RESTRICTED\   Meeting Agendas, 2012-2018 - RESTRICTED\	Meeting Agendas, 2012-2018 Physical Description: 74 digital files (2.67 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Executive Committee Meetings, 2012-2018 - RESTRICTED\   Meeting Materials, 2012-2015 - RESTRICTED\	Meeting Materials, 2012-2015 Physical Description: 40 digital files (2.68 MB)
	Meeting Minutes
Box   2 Folder   14	1957-1967
Electronic Folder     \Executive Committee Meetings, 2012-2018 - RESTRICTED\   Meeting Minutes, 2012-2018 - RESTRICTED\	2012-2018 Physical Description: 74 digital files (1.89 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Executive Committee Meetings, 2012-2018 - RESTRICTED\   Meeting Notes, 2013-2015 - RESTRICTED\	Meeting Notes, 2013-2015 Physical Description: 6 digital files (500 KB)
Box   2 Folder   15	Exhibition Committee, 1958-1969
Box   2 Folder   16	Extension Committee, Correspondence, 1959-1965
	Faculty Meetings, 1960-2018
Electronic Folder     \Faculty Meetings, 2012-2018\   Meeting Agendas, 2012-2018\	Meeting Agendas, 2012-2018 Physical Description: 55 digital files (3.29 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Faculty Meetings, 2012-2018\   Meeting Materials, 2012-2015\	Meeting Materials, 2012-2015 Physical Description: 103 digital files (9.90 MB)
	Meeting Minutes, 1960-1970
Box   2 Folder   17	1960-1970
Electronic Folder     \Faculty Meetings, 2012-2018\   Meeting Minutes, 2012-2018\	2012-2018 Physical Description: 59 digital files (3.93 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Faculty Meetings, 2012-2018\   Meeting Notes, 2012-2015\	Meeting Notes, 2012-2015 Physical Description: 12 digital files (843 KB)
Box   2 Folder   18	Families and Friends at the Paintbox Art Center, circa 1965
	The Fighting Finches, Book of Folklore, 1937 View selections from the folder here.
Electronic Folder     \Box02\   Folder52\	Digital Physical Description: 35 digital files (1.60 GB)  Scope and Content Note: Digitized sample of folder
Box   2 Folder   52	Physical
Box   2 Folder   19	Fine Arts Film Series, 1969
	Franz Visits a Farm, Children's Book, undated View selections from the folder here.
Electronic Folder     \Box02\   Folder53\	Digital Physical Description: 23 digital files (1.14 GB)  Scope and Content Note: Digitized sample of folder
Box   2 Folder   53	Physical
Electronic Folder     \Full Professor Committee Meetings, 2011-2018\	Full Professor Committee Meetings, 2011-2018 Physical Description: 4 digital files (58.9 KB)
Box   2 Folder   20	Graphic Arts Centers, Proposals, 1967-1969
Box   2 Folder   21	Inter-Campus Committee, 1956-1963
Box   2 Folder   22	Inter-Departmental Curriculum Planning, 1933-1969
Box   2 Folder   23	Library Committee, 1957-1962
Box   2 Folder   24	Lowell Lee Memorial Fund, 1953
Box   2 Folder   25	Masters Program in Art, 1959-1965
Electronic Folder     \Merit Committee Meetings, 2012-2014\	Merit Committee Meetings, 2012-2014 Physical Description: 3 digital files (168 KB)
Box   2 Folder   26	Milwaukee Art Center, 1964-1968
Box   2 Folder   27	Pabst Folk Fair Competition, 1967-1968
	Paintbox Art Center
Box   2 Folder   28	Correspondence, 1964-1968
Box   2 Folder   29	Proposals and Reports, 1965
Box   2 Folder   30	"The Path of the Contemporary Sculptor," Conference, 1964
	Photographs and photocopies, undated View selections from the folder here.
Electronic Folder     \Box02\   Folder31\	Digital Physical Description: 27 digital files (582 MB)  Scope and Content Note: Digitized sample of folder
Box   2 Folder   31	Physical
Box   2 Folder   32	Planning Document, 1983
Box   2 Folder   33	Planning Document, 1985
Box   2 Folder   34	Policy Committee, Minutes, 1953-1964
Box   2 Folder   35	Public Relations Committee, 1958-1963
Box   2 Folder   36	Rally for the Arts Ball, 1954-1955
	Retreats, 2012-2018
Electronic Folder     \Retreats, 2012-2018\   Retreat Agendas, 2012-2018\	Retreat Agendas, 2012-2018 Physical Description: 10 digital files (900 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Retreats, 2012-2018\   Retreat Materials, 2012-2015\	Retreat Materials, 2012-2015 Physical Description: 33 digital files (14.8 MB)
Electronic Folder     \Retreats, 2012-2018\   Retreat Minutes, 2014-2018\	Retreat Minutes, 2014-2018 Physical Description: 6 digital files (468 KB)
Electronic Folder     \Retreats, 2012-2018\   Retreat Notes, 2012-2014\	Retreat Notes, 2012-2014 Physical Description: 4 digital files (285 KB)
Box   2 Folder   37	Review of Masters Degree Programs in Art and Art Education, 1973
Box   2 Folder   38	School of Architecture, 1966-1967
Box   4	Scrapbook, 1920-1936
Box   4	Scrapbook, 1936-1944
Box   2 Folder   39	Servicemen's Letters, 1942-1943
Box   2 Folder   40	Standing Committee Rosters, 1956-1965
Box   2 Folder   41	Summer Session Committee, 1959-1961
Box   2 Folder   42	Summer Sessions, 1956-1959
Box   2 Folder   43	Trips Committee, 1957-1964
Box   3	Vermilion Dachshund, 1934-1936
Box   4	Vermilion Dachshund, 1937
Box   2 Folder   44	Visiting Artists, Correspondence, 1960-1970
Box   2 Folder   45	Visual Aids Committee, 1959-1961
	Wisconsin Artists' Federation Bulletin, 1938-1940 View selections from the folder here.
Electronic Folder     \Box02\   Folder46\	Digital Physical Description: 28 digital files (749 MB)  Scope and Content Note: Digitized sample of folder
Box   2 Folder   46	Physical
Box   2 Folder   47	Wisconsin Centennial Art Program, 1946-1948
Box   2 Folder   48	Wisconsin Painters and Sculptors, 1934-1944
Box   2 Folder   49	Works Progress Administration + 35 Exhibit, 1969-1970
Box   2 Folder   50	Works Progress Administration Handicraft Project, 1935-1942
Box   2 Folder   51	Works Progress Administration Project, News Items, 1939-1969