This Old Palette: January 2007

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

President's Message - February 1915

R.V. Brown won the election - and here's his acceptance speech in the next month's Cowbell.

He sounds like a sales manager, doesn't he? ("get out and hustle")-- with the same high-spirited humor as his campaign speech from the month before -- and the emphasis on the "added prestige the club shall acquire in the future" (now it's called brand identification -- and I'll bet he did line art for advertising -- exemplified by the above "Ship of State" sketch that accompanied his text).

A good picture of club's activities is shown by the list of committees he appoints -- most of them with only one person - who will be expected to perform the task assigned. According to R.V.B. no one had to be asked twice -- but in reference to his "big blue pencil", some chose to decline.

The biggest committee (with the most work) was "exhibition" -- followed by "entertainment" -- but special emphasis was also placed on the library and the Cowbell -- two activities that currently lie dormant. (and despite his optimism, the Cowbell would soon cease publication for several years)

Notice the reference to "sergeant-at-arms" ? Why tell us that a new one will be appointed each meeting -- unless that used to be someone's permanent -- and controversial position -- i.e. keeping the meetings in order

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Never before in the history of the Club has a new and budding administration gotten away with prospects brighter for a prosperous and constructive term than the administration just elected in 1915.

Party lines have been erased , political bitterness and animosity has been forgotten , and the present Cabinet stands united in the ambition to give to the Club, regardless of personal sacrifice, a year of honest and impartial endeavor.

I am confident of ultimate success because our Cabinet is in absolute harmony, an essential quality that cannot be overestimated, and because in the selection of our committee and chairmen we have not had to ask any man twice to take a certain appointment. Should he show a disposition to accept reluctantly, there is only one conclusion to be arrived at – the proper spirit is missing, with the result that the big blue pencil immediately comes into play, and “he who hesitates is lost”

Every man appointed to office at this time has accepted his task gladly and with a degree of enthusiasm that can only spell success in great, large letters.

The work and responsibilities of the Cabinet during the year will be equally divided between Philllips, Kleboe, Larson, Sayre and myself. For instance, presiding over the library and nursing the log book will be only part of Sayre’s work. Cabinet meetings will be called often, and each officer will be there to do his part and to voice his opinion on all matters that shall come up before this body, the big idea being that every ounce of efficiency in the Cabinet shall be brought into play for the welfare and prosperity of the Club at large.

The official list of appointments for 1915 which follows, has been made in an honest and impartial way, absolutely upon the merits and capabilities of the men, and in an earnest desire to further best interest and prosperity of the Club:

Exhibition Committee: John Carlsen – Chairman; Griffith, McCombs, Kleitsch and Knudson
Associate Membership – August Petryl
Active Membership – George Reiman, chairman; Jensen
Model Committee – Glen C. Sheffer
Entertainment Committee – Valentine, chair; Simmons, and Evans
Outing Committee – Yoeman
Publicity – Gordon St. Clair, Chairman; Harry Engle,Victor Higgins
Studio Accessories – Veiler
Civic Committee – Theordore Keane, Chairman
General Utility – Bertsch
Sergeant-at-arms to be appointed at every meeting

Harry Timmins has been appointed editor of the Cow Bell, and will look to E.H.Higgins as his associate editor. This issue is the first one to make its appearance under the direction of Mr Timmins.

As an impetus to greater deeds we have to look back over the many things the Club has accomplished in years gone by. Co-operation has been the keynote of our successes of the past, and co-operation is going to mean as much to us now as it did then.

Any active or associate member with an idea to expound that he thinks will serve to better club conditions will be greeted with open arms at all times.

The facilities of the Club today for painting and drawing are better than ever before, and the work done in the clubrooms and the enthusiasm shown must eventually have a direct bearing upon the added prestige the Club shall acquire in the future.

Exhibitions are being signed up and dates are being arrange for a continuous round of picture shows throughout the year.

The Cow Bell has been resuscitated for good. It positively can not stop during 1915 and by next January should be so firmly established that the mere thought of its ever dying will be tabooed.

All active members owe it to the Club to be present at every business meeting. Come up and watch the machinery work, and behold each chairman reading a regular written report for twelve consecutive months.

Remember, we want more associates and more active members, and the only way to get them is to get out and hustle. DON’T BE AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT THE CLUB !!! IT’S THE BIGGEST THING OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY !!!!

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

R. V. Brown: "Eloped By Motor"

From the September 22, 1916, Chicago Tribune.

"Mr. Brown had known Miss Cotton less than a month, but they understood each other thoroughly."

I figure she must have been a model.

Sunday, January 28, 2007

ELECTION SPECIAL - 1915

Here is the front page of the January 1, 1915 ELECTION SPECIAL edition of the “Cowbell” – with campaign messages from each of the three candidates.
(when was the last time we had three candidates ? – when was the last time the P&C newsletter published campaign messages ?)

This was probably the high-water mark in P&C history.

Several now-famous painters were Artist Members – several Chicago civic leaders (including the President and Treasurer of the Art Institute) were Life Members and nineteen P&C members were juried into the 1915 Chicago Artists Show at the Art Institute, and 3 of them received awards.

One year late, the P&C would celebrate it’s 20th anniversary with a special exhibit at the Art Institute.

Concerning the three candidates – nothing has yet been found online except for Albert H. Ullrich – whose painting is shown above. (he may also have been the same Albert H. Ullrich, born the same year, who owned a jewelry business and bought Lord’s Drygoods store in Evanston.)

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January 1, 1915 ELECTION SPECIAL

R.V. BROWN FOR PRESIDENT

I wish to introduce to you the newer and complete R.V. Brown, the serious man of progressive endeavor. You who have known me as an advocate of frivolity, who have not been able to see behind my happy-go-lucky exterior, the man of earnest and generous purpose, attend one moment while I lay aside the modesty which makes me assume carelessness, and show you why I desire the office of President.

I have considered this matter thoroughly, and I hons4estly belie I am the one logical man to carry on the development of the Club from its present stage.

I believe in a protective tariff and that a larger and stronger associate membership means the life of the Club.

This is known as a “producing” club, and I am strongly in favor of many exhibits throughout the year, and I promise that, if elected, the paper upon our walls will only be visible to the human eye when one exhibit is being taken down and another is being put up.

The Cow Bell will appear with religious regularity, and a business administration possessing both dignity and pep, will be in evidence from start to finish.

Being a young man of unlimited wealth, and so situated that I can give the Club first consideration at all times, I contend that I am the logical candidate for the office of President. In taking this stand, I point with pride to my record for the year just ended, during which time I transformed the office of Librarian from a joke to a serious reality and have taken a prominent part in every other progressive movement during the year.

Regardless of these unassailable facts, there are at present certain members in this Club who are honestly and sincerely convinced that my election would not be timely; whereas the facts in the case are that my election will prove the greatest ”Godsend” that can possibly befall the Club at its current crisis.

Gentlemen, I stand on my record of the past year when I say that a vote for me means a vote for the welfare of the Club and a year of prosperity for us all. I trust that the many readers of The Cow Bell who are active voters will give this appeal their honest consideration and after the smoke of battle has cleared away will be able to shake hands with themselves and say “I SEEN MY DUTY AND I DONE IT.”

ALBERT H. ULLRICH FOR PRESIDENT

The Administration that I will give the Club, if I am elected, will favor educational lines. It seems to me that the most vital things about the Club, the object for which it was organized is to give the members an opportunity to study and work from the living model, to give exhibitions and to talk over those given here and elsewhere -- to give the ambitious student the social surroundings that are necessary to make an artist out of a draughtsman.

I should try to improve these conditions and bring about a better acquaintance with the materials we have to work with by asking the members to put their knowledge in a concrete form so that it may be referred to in the clubrooms. A committee might also be appointed advantageously , to whom members may go for advice or instruction during study hours.

A continuous round of exhibitions is of great advantage to the members, but these should be so arranged as not to interfere seriously with the lighting arrangements of the evening work.

I do not believe the Club should be burdened with the custom of giving each associate member a picture. I feel that the associates would much prefer to spend more social evenings with us and get more knowledge of pictures and how they are painted, and get better acquainted with the painters.

E.P. THURN FOR PRESIDENT

This being the third time that I have been nominated for President, and being determined to be elected this year, I believe I should issue a very frank statement. In the two previous elections I have, as you know, remained apathetic because on both occasions, I have been opposed by better men I was unwilling this time to become a candidate until I found who my opponents would be. I think well of them both, but I think better of the Club and its welfare. I urge all my former supporters to rally for this time I with them heart and soul.

In asking to be elected your president, I point to my record not alone because I have held successfully every other office in the Club, nor because as Chairman of the Outing Committee, the camp, for the first time in its history, not only paid all expenses, but actually paid back into the Club treasury a substantial dividend, nor do I ask to be elected because since I first became an active member, seven or eight years back, I have been one of the most active, or alone because I am the logical candidate, but for all of these reasons and those others which modesty keeps me from mentioning.

There’s so much tongue-in-cheek going on here– it’s hard to tell what issues were at stake.

Ullrich seems to be the most serious – but he lacks a sense of humor and his English is the worst.

Who would you vote for ?

Note: Here's the P&C artists who got into the Chicago Artists Show of 1915:
Wilson Irvine (Clyde M. Carr prize)
Carl Krafft (Englewood Women's Club trophy)
Victor Higgins (purchased by Municipal Art Gallery)
Arvid Nyholm (Municipal Art League prize for portraiture)
Frank Dudley (a former member at this time)
Alfred Jannson
J.Jeffrey Grant
J.H. Carlsen
Louis Oscar Griffith
Rudolph Ingerle
Sam Kennedy
Joseph Kleitsch
Edgar Payne
Walter Ufer
Albert Ullrich
Seiderneck
Theide (etching)
Harry Engle
Juergens
Jimmy Dulin (sculpture)
Emory Seidel