Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Watercolor Society of Oregon Records, 1958-2009
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Watercolor Society of Oregon.
- Title
- Watercolor Society of Oregon Records
- Dates
- 1958-2009 (inclusive)19582009
1966-2009 (bulk)19662009 - Quantity
- 4.3 cubic feet, including 2362 photographs, (5 boxes)
- Collection Number
- MSS Watercolor
- Summary
- The Watercolor Society of Oregon Records document the activities, membership, and administration of the Watercolor Society of Oregon. These records date back to the organization's establishment in 1966 and include materials from the Oregon Amateur Watercolor Society, which merged with the Master Watercolor Association to form the Watercolor Society of Oregon.
- Repository
-
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
Historical NoteReturn to Top
The Watercolor Society of Oregon (WSO) was formed in 1966 by members of two Oregon-based organizations, the Master Watercolor Association and the Oregon Amateur Watercolor Society. Seeking to "further the interest of transparent watercolor painting and to encourage a wider experience, enjoyment, and education to the painter and the viewing public," WSO founders stipulated that the society would hold two juried shows a year at two different locations throughout the state. Upon the conclusion of these shows, the featured artwork would then travel as part of a traveling exhibit throughout the state. The first WSO show took place in Lincoln City in April 1966 and the tradition of the two semi-annual shows continues to this day. Starting out with a membership of 38 artists at the time of its establishment, the WSO counted about a 1000 members by 2012.
Tom Allen, one of the founding members of the WSO, worked for the Oregon State University Botany Department from 1962 until 1991. At Oregon State University, he established the Art About Agriculture program in 1983 and served as the university's first artist-in-residence.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Watercolor Society of Oregon Records document the activities, membership, and administration of the Watercolor Society of Oregon (WSO). These records primarily consist of notebooks assembled by WSO members that reflect the two shows of WSO artwork held annually as well as painting workshops and board meetings. In addition to photographs, the notebooks contain exhibit catalogs, flyers, meeting minutes, membership rosters, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and reports. One of the notebooks contains materials from the Oregon Amateur Watercolor Society, which pre-date the formation of the WSO in 1966.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
Watercolor Society of Oregon Records (MSS Watercolor), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
The Watercolor Society of Oregon Records are arranged into 8 series: 1. Notebooks, 1958-2006; 2. Photographs, 1988-2000; 3. Handbooks, 1984-1996; 4. Correspondence, 1973-1984; 5. Show Entry Lists, 1966-1974; 6. Exhibit Catalog for 25th Anniversary Show, 1990; 7. Newspaper Clippings, 2009; and 8. Account Ledger, 1966-1975.
Acquisition Information
These records were transferred to the Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center in 2015 by the Watercolor Society of Oregon.
Related Materials
There are other collections that document WSO founder and Oregon State University Botanist Tom Allen. Images of Allen, his paintings, and his research projects can be found in the Robert W. Henderson Photograph Collection (P 098), the Frederick Earl Price Photograph Collection (P 073), and the Media Services Photograph Collection (P 119). An interview with Tom Allen is featured as a part of the OSU Sesquicentennial Oral History Collection. Documentation of the Art About Agriculture program at Oregon State University, established by Allen in 1983, is included in the Memorabilia Collection, the OSU Development Office and Foundation Records (RG 144), and the College of Agricultural Sciences Photograph Collection (P 036).
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Series 1: Notebooks, 1958-2006Return to Top
Series 1 is comprised of notebooks assembled by Watercolor Society of Oregon (WSO) members that contain bylaws, calendars, committee reports, correspondence, exhibit catalogs, flyers, meeting minutes, membership rosters, newsletters, newspaper clippings, notes, photographs, posters, and survey materials. These notebooks primarily document the planning process and activities associated with the two shows of WSO member artwork organized every year by the society. The first and oldest notebook in this series contains meeting minutes and membership rosters from the Oregon Amateur Watercolor Society, one of the predecessor organizations to the WSO. This series contains 2165 color and B&W photographic prints.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 1.1 | 1958-1971 | |
| 1.2 | 1972-1974 | |
| 1.3 | 1975 | |
| 1.4 | 1976 | |
| 1.5 | 1977 | |
| 1.6 | 1978 | |
| 1.7 | 1979 | |
| 1.8 | 1980-1981 | |
| 1.9 | 1982 | |
| 1.10 |
Spring Show-Corvallis
|
1983 |
| 1.11 |
Fall Show-Bend
|
1983 |
| 1.12 |
Fall Show-Bend
|
1983 |
| 1.13 |
Spring Show-Forest Grove
|
1984 |
| 1.14 |
Fall Show-Roseburg
|
1984 |
| 1.15 |
Fall Show-Roseburg
|
1984 |
| 1.16 |
Spring Show-Eugene
|
1985 |
| 1.17 |
Spring Show-Eugene
|
1985 |
| 2.1 |
Fall Show-The Dalles
|
1985 |
| 2.2 |
Spring Show-Portland
|
1986 |
| 2.3 |
Spring Show-Portland
|
1986 |
| 2.4 |
Fall Show-Medford
|
1986 |
| 2.5 |
Spring Show-Salem
|
1987 |
| 2.6 |
Spring Show-Salem
|
1987 |
| 2.7 |
Fall Term-Bandon
|
1987 |
| 2.8 |
Fall Show-Bandon
|
1987 |
| 2.9 |
Spring Show-Albany
|
1988 |
| 2.10 |
Spring Show-Albany
|
1988 |
| 2.11 |
Fall Show-Bend
|
1988 |
| 2.12 |
Spring Show-Portland
|
1989 |
| 2.13 |
Fall Show-Newport
|
1989 |
| 2.14 |
Fall Show-Newport
|
1989 |
| 2.15 |
Spring Show-Salem
|
1990 |
| 2.16 |
Spring Show-Salem
|
1990 |
| 3.1 |
Fall Show-Ashland
|
1990 |
| 3.2 |
Fall Show-Ashland
|
1990 |
| 3.3 |
25th Anniversary Exhibit at OHS
|
1990 |
| 3.4 |
25th Anniversary Exhibit at OHS
|
1990 |
| 3.5 |
25th Anniversary Exhibit Slides/Bios
|
1990 |
| 3.6 |
25th Anniversary Exhibit Slides/Bios
|
1990 |
| 3.7 |
Spring Show-Eugene
|
1991 |
| 3.8 |
Spring Show-Eugene
|
1991 |
| 3.9 |
Fall Show-Timberline Lodge
|
1991 |
| 3.10 |
Spring Show-Grants Pass
|
1992 |
| 3.11 |
Spring Show-Grants Pass
|
1992 |
| 3.12 |
Spring Show-Grants Pass
|
1992 |
| 3.13 |
"Splash" Auction and Sale
|
1992 |
| 3.14 |
Fall Show-Astoria
|
1992 |
| 3.15 |
Spring Show-Corvallis
|
1993 |
| 3.16 |
Spring Show-Corvallis
|
1993 |
| 4.1 |
Fall Show-The Dalles
|
1993 |
| 4.2 |
Fall Show-The Dalles
|
1993 |
| 4.3 |
Spring Show-Roseburg
|
1994 |
| 4.4 |
Fall Show-Coos Bay
|
1994 |
| 4.5 |
Spring Show-Troutdale
|
1995 |
| 4.6 |
Fall Show-Medford
|
1995 |
| 4.7 |
Fall Term-Medford
|
1995 |
| 4.8 |
Spring and Fall Shows-Salem and Bend
|
1996 |
| 4.9 |
Spring Show-Eugene
|
1997 |
| 4.10 |
Fall Show-Joseph
|
1997 |
| 4.11 |
Spring Show-Hillsboro
|
1998 |
| 4.12 |
Fall Show-Newport
|
1998 |
| 4.13 |
Spring Show-Portland
|
1999 |
| 4.14 |
Fall Show-Medford
|
1999 |
| 4.15 |
Spring Show-Corvallis
|
2000 |
| 4.16 |
Fall Show-Florence
|
2000 |
| 4.17 |
Spring Show-Hood River
|
2001 |
| 4.18 |
Fall Show-Grants Pass
|
2001 |
| 4.19 |
Spring Show-Portland
|
2002 |
| 4.20 |
Fall Show-Astoria
|
2002 |
| 4.21 |
Spring Show-Springfield
|
2003 |
| 4.22 |
Fall Show-Forest Grove
|
2003 |
| 5.1 |
Fall Show-Ashland
|
2004 |
| 5.2 |
Spring and Fall Shows-Burns and Roseburg
|
2005 |
| 5.3 |
Spring Show-Tualatin
|
2006 |
| 5.4 |
WSO Presidents, ca. 1991
|
Series 2: Photographs, 1988-2000Return to Top
Series 2 is made up of photographs depicting the paintings exhibited at the 1994 Fall Show and receptions for shows in 1988 and 2000. The 197 images in this series consist of color prints and color film negatives.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5.5 |
Paintings from 1994 Fall Show
|
1994 |
| 5.6 |
Spring and Fall Show Installations and Receptions
|
1988-2000 |
Series 3: Handbooks, 1984-1998Return to Top
Series 3 consists of handbooks outlining the duties of WSO officers and the show chairman.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5.7 | Job Descriptions |
1984 |
| 5.8 | Show Chairman's Handbook |
1998 |
Series 4: Correspondence, 1973-1984Return to Top
Series 4 is made up of correspondence received by WSO President Mae Cronant that reflect administrative activities of the society such as tour publicity, the selection of show judges, and the receipt of photos taken of the shows. Among the items Interfiled with the correspondence include: financial worksheets, meeting minutes, and a membership roster.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5.9 | 1973-1984 |
Series 5: Show Entry Lists, 1966-1974Return to Top
Series 5 is made up of lists of the artwork featured at the Watercolor Society of Oregon shows.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5.10 | 1966-1974 |
Series 6: Exhibit Catalog for 25th Anniversary Show, 1990Return to Top
Series 6 consists of three copies of the exhibit catalog published for the Watercolor Society of Oregon's 25th Anniversary Exhibition. The publication includes an essay on the history of the WSO.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5.11 | 1990 |
Series 7: Newspaper Clippings, 2005-2009Return to Top
Series 7 consists of newspaper clippings with stories about WSO members Mike Hill and Blenda Tyvoll. There is also a feature about the 2005 WSO Spring Show in Burns.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5.12 | 2009 |
Series 8: Account Ledger, 1966-1975Return to Top
Series 8 is made up of an account ledger listing expenditures, deposits, membership dues received, and account balances.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box/Folder | ||
| 5.13 | 1966-1975 |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Artists--Oregon.
- Traveling exhibitions--Oregon.
- Watercolor painting--Oregon.
Corporate Names
- Watercolor Society of Oregon.
Form or Genre Terms
- Film negatives.
- Photographic prints.
Finding Aid Authors: Karl McCreary.
2016
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
