The Painters’ Club of Los Angeles was the predecessor to the California Art Club.

This section includes the full membership roster for the Painters’ Club of Los Angeles (1906-1909) as well as notes from their handwritten minutes and exhibitions. Also included is information that explains how and why the PCLA re-formed as the California Art Club.

 

1906-1909

Examples of club minutes handwritten by Secretary Dunn from the first meeting of the PCLA


Club Beginnings

The histories of two early Los Angeles artists groups, the Painters’ Club and the California Art Club, are nearly inseparable. The Painters’ Club, organized in 1906 to bring artists together and present artwork for sale through exhibitions, allowed only men working in oil, watercolor or pastel to join. When the Painters’ Club disbanded a few years later, some of its previous members reorganized themselves, and the California Art Club was formed in late 1909. Its membership guidelines were widened to include women and sculptors, as well as artists who lived outside the state, and the new club quickly grew in size and stature.

[Note: The Painters’ Club also has predecessors – there is a common thread back to the Richmond Art Association, and even further back to the Rambler’s Sketch Club in Indiana. Albert Clinton Conner (1848-1929) is this thread. He and his brother Charles Conner (1857-1905), along with Frank Joseph Girardin (1856-1945) and Micajah Thomas Nordyke (1847 -?), founded the Rambler’s Sketch Club (c. 1881), and soon added John Elwood Bundy (1853 – 1933) to their group. The Rambler’s Sketch Club later metamorphosed into the Richmond Art Association (founded 1898, but had exhibited art in schools as early as 1896), which subsequently became the Richmond Art Museum. After Albert Clinton Conner moved to California, he helped to found the Painters’ Club of Los Angeles, and used the models of the two previous art clubs.]

  1. Antony Anderson, The Painter From Indiana, Los Angeles Times, May 7, 1911; pg. III22
  2. Email to Eric Merrell from Shaun Dingwerth, Exceutive Director of the Richmond Art Museum, September 11, 2008.
  3. askART.com

The Painters’ Club of Los Angeles

On the evening of March 10, 1906 a number of painters who lived in the Los Angeles area met together for the purpose of forming a club. Soon afterward, on the evening of March 17, eleven of these same men met at the studio of William Swift Daniell (1865-1933). After some discussion, it was unanimously decided to form a club then and there, and the Painters’ Club of Los Angeles was born. The dues for Active Membership were $2.00 per year (Sustaining or Associate Members paid $10/year). Their goal was “to meet in the spirit of comradeship and good temper for mutual criticism and suggestion on one another’s recent work.” Albert Clinton (“Pops”) Conner was elected President of the club; and Antony Anderson [the first art critic for the Los Angeles Times] was chosen to be the first Secretary and Treasurer. All of the artists were men, as no women were allowed.

“A number of the painters of Los Angeles have formed an association for mutual betterment in their craft and for good-fellowship. They will meet every fortnight and their meetings are to be the occasion of discussions on every topic that may be of practical interest to the painter in oils or watercolors. Each member of the club will bring a sketch, study or picture to every meeting, and all the other members will play the parts of critics…”

There can be no doubt that such an organization as the Painters’ Club has long been needed in our midst. Many artists of the town are utter strangers to one another, though they may have sent pictures to the same exhibitions and lived across the street from each other for years…The Painters’ Club intends to change all this…In fact, smiles have already been exchanged, and hands have even been heartily shaken, and the Painters’ Club has been formed…Some day the Painters’ Club may hold an exhibition of its own…The present membership of the Painters’ Club is as follows: Hanson Puthuff, Carl Oscar Borg, David Dunn, William Swift Daniell, Frank Conner, A.C. Conner, George T. Winterburn, Frank Elwin Evans, Antony E. Anderson, Frank R. Liddell and William H. Cole. The president of the club is A.C. Conner.

(Antony Anderson, Art and Artists, Los Angeles Times, March 25, 1906; 6,2,5)


Membership of the Painters’ Club of os Angeles

  • Charter Members (11) – Founders of the PC (Minutes, March 17, 1906)
  • “New Members” (31) – Listed in roster; unknown exactly when some joined, see notes
  • * – Some names in the roster are crossed out. This may indicate a resignation of membership at some point.

  • Hector ALLIOT (1862-1919)
    Membership Unknown
    He gave a talk at the PC’s 2nd anniversary smoker at the Majestic Hotel (Minutes), but it is unknown if he was a member (moved from N. Cal to S. Cal. in 1906); later on was an Honorary Member of the CAC
  • Antony E. ANDERSON (1863-1939)
    Charter Member
    1st Secretary & Treasurer (Minutes); Listed at 212 Ave. 63 (Minutes); Voted an Honorary Member on Nov. 26, 1907 (Minutes)
  • Charles Percy AUSTIN (1883-1948)
    Active Member
    Elected prior to Feb. 4, 1908 (Minutes); Listed at 401 W. Ave. 5_? (Minutes)
  • Harry Lewis BAILEY (1879-1933)
    Active Member
    Elected prior to Feb. 4, 1908 (Minutes); Listed at 1309 Constance St., 2416 W. 9 & 940 W. 6 (Minutes)
  • S.E. BIERACH* (n.d.)
    Active Member
    Joined at May 12, 1906 meeting (LAT, May 20, 1906); Listed at 347 Center St., So. Pasadena (Minutes)
  • Franz BISCHOFF (1864-1929)
    Active Member
    Elected September 7, 1909 (Minutes); Listed at 320 Pas. Ave., So. Pasadena (Minutes)
  • John Matthew BLACK* (1876-?)
    Active Member
    Elected July 7, 1908 (Minutes); Listed in Monrovia, Cal. (Minutes)
  • P.L. BLAIR (n.d.)
    Associate Member
    Elected Dec., 1908 (Minutes); Listed at 221 W. Third St. (Minutes)
  • Frederick Winslow BLANCHARD (1878-1948)
    Associate Member
    Elected prior to Nov. 1, 1908 (Minutes); Listed at Blanchard Hall (Minutes)
  • Carl Oscar BORG (1879-1947)
    Charter Member
    Listed at 315 So. Bunkerhill St. (Minutes)
  • Randal William BOROUGH* (1878-1951)
    Active Member
    Elected Sept. 1, 1906 (LAT Sept. 9, 1906); Listed at 2nd and Grand, Minnewaska (Minutes)
  • Hobart Van Zandt BOSWORTH* (1867 – 1943)
    Active Member
    Elected Sept. 1, 1906 (LAT Sept. 9, 1906); Listed in Tempe, AZ (Minutes)
  • Burton Shepard BOUNDEY (1879 – 1962)
    Active Member
    Elected July 7, 1908 (Minutes); Listed in Monrovia, Cal. (Minutes)
  • Benjamin Chambers BROWN* (1865 – 1942)
    Active Member
    Elected October, 1906 (LAT Oct. 7, 1906); Listed at 120 N. El Molino Ave., Pasadena (Minutes)
  • Henry William CANNON (1862 – 1939)
    Active Member
    Elected January 7, 1908 (Minutes); Listed at “Cor. 6th & Olive St.,” also 621 N. Fennings St., Temple …(Minutes)
  • Frank COBURN (1862 – 1938)
    Active Member
    Elected Feb. 2, 1909 (Minutes/LAT, Feb. 14, 1909); Listed in Santa Ana, also 1021 S. Grand (Minutes)
  • William Henry COLE* (1870 – 1955)
    Charter Member
    Listed at 1115 Magnolia Ave. (Minutes)
  • Albert Clinton (“Pops”) CONNER (1848 – 1929)
    Charter Member
    1st & only President (Minutes/LAT, Mar. 25, 1906); Listed at 232 S. Griffin Ave., Manhattan Beach (Minutes)
  • Frank C. CONNER (n.d.)
    Charter Member
    Listed at 2669 N. Griffin Ave. (Minutes)
  • Valentine J. (“Val”) COSTELLO (1875 – 1937)
    Active Member
    Elected prior to Feb. 4, 1908 (Minutes); Listed at 401 W. Ave. 52, also 929 W. 4th (Minutes)
  • William Swift DANIELL (1865-1933)
    Charter Member
    Listed at 2620 Manitou Ave. (Minutes)
  • Arthur Burnside DODGE (1863 – 1952)
    Active Member
    Elected July 6, 1909 (Minutes); Listed c/o Times Art Dept. (Minutes) [Art Editor for the L.A. Times]
  • David H. DUNN (n.d.)
    Charter Member
    2nd Secretary & Treasurer (Minutes); Lived at 335 So. Broadway 702 S. Spring (Minutes)
  • Frank Elwin EVANS (n.d.)
    Charter Member
    Listed at 2250 Allesandra Ave., Station “M”, Edendale (Minutes)
  • Eugene C. FRANK (1844 – 1914)
    Unknown He submitted work numerous times to become an member but was rejected, unknown if he was ever accepted (Minutes); later was an Honorary Member of the CAC
  • Guy Parker GOODWIN* (1881 – 1936)
    Active Member
    Joined presumably at meeting on Apr. 28, 1906 (LAT, Apr. 29, 1906); Listed at 738 E. Walnut St., Pasadena (Minutes)
  • Joseph David GREENBAUM* (1864 – 1940)
    Active Member
    Listed at Blanchard Hall. (Minutes)
  • Rev. Benjamin HARTLEY (n.d.)
    Active Member
    Elected initially as an Associate prior to Dec. 1, 1908; elected to Active Member on March 2, 1909 (Minutes); Listed at 1727 New Hampshire St. (Minutes)
  • Charles HASKELL (n.d.)
    Associate Member
    Elected on December 1, 1908 (Minutes); Listed at the Jonathan Club.
  • Warren T. HEDGES (1883 – 1910)
    Active Member
    Elected October, 1906 (LAT, Oct. 7, 1906); Listed at Blanchard Hall, also So. Lake Ave. (Minutes); Died January 9, 1910 in Pasadena. He was 27 years old. (LAT, Feb. 1910)
  • Martin Jacob JACKSON (1871 – 1955)
    Active Member
    Joined sometime in early April 1906. (LAT, Apr. 8, 1906); Lived at 434 Copp Bldg. (Minutes); 3rd Secretary & Treasurer (Minutes); Joined sometime in 1906, prior to 2nd Small Exh.
  • Frederic G. JOHNSON* (1890 – 1953)
    Active Member
    Listed at Blanchard Hall (Minutes)
  • Aaron Edward KILPATRICK (1872 – 1953)
    Active Member
    Elected prior to Feb. 4, 1908 (Minutes); Listed at 1307 E. 28th St. (Minutes)
  • Frank Rennsselear LIDDELL (1864 – 1923)
    Charter Member
    Lived at 127 Visse (?) St., Hollywood, also 1323 So. Burlington (Minutes)
  • William A. MATERN (1867 – 1923)
    Associate Member
    Elected prior to Dec. 1, 1908 (Minutes); Listed at the Jonathan Club
  • Everett C. MAXWELL (n.d.)
    Unknown He curated 2nd Annual Exhibition held at Blanchard’s, but unknown if he was a member; later on he was an Honorary Member of the CAC
  • Frederick Roland MINER (1876 – 1935)
    Associate Member
    Elected January 5, 1909 (PC Minutes); Listed at 2202 W. 25th St.
  • Charles Peter NEILSON* (n.d.)
    Active Member
    Listed at Blanchard Hall (Minutes)
  • John W. NICOLL* (1865 – 1943)
    Active Member
    Elected October, 1906 (LAT Oct. 7, 1906); Listed at 595 Summit Ave., Pasadena (Minutes)
  • J.B. PROCTOR (n.d.)
    Associate Member
    Elected prior to Dec. 1, 1908 (Minutes); Listed in Santa Monica. (Minutes)
  • Hanson Duvall PUTHUFF (1875 – 1972)
    Charter Member
    Lived at 401 W. Ave. 52 (Minutes)
  • Arion PUTNAM (1870 – 1949)
    Active Member
    Elected October 5, 1909 (Minutes); Listed at 208 N. Spring St. (Minutes)
  • Charles Albert ROGERS (1848 – 1918)
    Active Member
    Elected January 7, 1908 (Minutes); Listed at 445 S. Olive St. and another illegible address (Minutes)
  • Charles C. SELBIE* (n.d.)
    Active Member
    Elected prior to Nov. 27, 1907 (Minutes); Youngest member of the PC; Listed at 966 Vermont Ave. (Minutes)
  • William Alexander SHARP (1864 – 1944)
    Active Member
    Elected July 6, 1909 (Minutes); Listed at 114 N. Spring St. (Minutes)
  • Jack W. SMITH* (also John) (1873 – 1949)
    Active Member
    Elected April 7, 1908 (Minutes; LAT, May 10, 1908); Listed at c/o Varney & Green, San Pedro (Minutes); (listed often as “John Smith,” it is most probably the same person. The original roster containing Jack Smith’s name appears to have been written originally as “John,” and then overwritten as “Jack.”)
  • Norman ST. CLAIR (1863 – 1912)
    Honorary Member
    Joined at June 2, 1906 meeting (LAT, June 3, 1906) Requested to resign Active Membership, changed to Associate Member on October 28, 1909. Voted an Honorary Member October 5, 1909. (Minutes); Listed at 214 E. Ave. 41 (Minutes)
  • Alson G. STONE (n.d.)
    Associate Member
    Elected July 6, 1909 (Minutes); Listed at 330 S. Bevay, L.A. (Minutes)
  • Rev. John William THEISS (1863-1932)
    Active Member
    Elected March, 1907 (LAT, Apr. 7, 1907); 1st & only Vice President; elected May 5, 1908 (Minutes); Listed at 1308 E. 46th St. (Minutes)
  • Charles S. WARD* (1850 – 1937)
    Active Member
    Joined at May 12, 1906 meeting (LAT, May 20, 1906); Listed at 113 N. Hope St., 208 N. Grand Ave., and 220 N. Hancock St. (Minutes)
  • Jack WELLS (also Welles) (n.d.)
    Associate Member
    Elected April 6, 1909 (Minutes); Listed as c/o L.A. Gas Co. (Minutes)
  • William WENDT (1845 – 1946)
    Active Member
    Elected Aug. 4, 1908 (Minutes/LAT, Aug. 9, 1908); Listed at 2814 No. Sichel St. (Minutes)
  • George Thomas WINTERBURN* (1865 – 1953)
    Charter Member
    Lived at 410 1/2 Temple St. 1814 Oak St. (Minutes – name and address listed, but crossed out)

Membership card of the Los Angeles Painters’ Club, designed by Martin J. Jackson. Courtesy Benida Solow.


Chronology of the Painters’ Club