Society of Illustrators

American professional society

Society of Illustrators

The society's headquarters in New York City since 1939

Formation| February 1, 1901; 124 years ago (1901-02-01)
Founders| Henry S. Fleming, Otto Henry Bacher, Frank Vincent DuMond, Henry Hutt, Albert Wenzell, Albert Sterner, Benjamin West Clinedinst, F. C. Yohn, Louis Loeb, and Reginald Birch
Purpose| Encourage high ideals through exhibitions, lectures, education, and by fostering a sense of community and open discussion. Its mission is to promote the art and appreciation of illustration and comics, as well as their history.
Headquarters| 128 E. 63rd Street
New York City, U.S.
Coordinates| 40°45′52.56″N 73°58′1.25″W﻿ / ﻿40.7646000°N 73.9670139°W﻿ / 40.7646000; -73.9670139
Fields| Illustration and Comics

Executive Director

| Arabelle Liepold
Subsidiaries| Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art
Website| www.societyillustrators.org

The Society of Illustrators (SoI) is a professional society based in New York City. It was founded in 1901 to promote the art of illustration and, since 1959, has held an annual exhibition.

Since absorbing the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) in 2012, the Society has also promoted the art of comics. In addition to its holding exhibitions in its own Museum of American Illustration, the Society holds the annual MoCCA Festival, an independent comics showcase.

## History

[edit]

### Founding

[edit]

Society of Illustrators members at the Berkeley Theater in Manhattan in 1914

The Society of Illustrators was founded on February 1, 1901, by a group of nine artists and one advising businessman. The advising businessman was Henry S. Fleming, a coal dealer who offered his legal staff to the Society in an advisory role and also served as the Society of Illustrators Secretary and Treasurer for many years.[1] The nine artists who, with Fleming, founded the Society were Otto Henry Bacher, Frank Vincent DuMond, Henry Hutt, Albert Wenzell, Albert Sterner, Benjamin West Clinedinst, F. C. Yohn, Louis Loeb, and Reginald Birch.[2]

The mission statement was "to promote generally the art of illustration and to hold exhibitions from time to time".[3] Women first became part of the organization in 1903, when Elizabeth Shippen Green and Florence Scovel Shinn were named Associate Members; but women were prohibited from full membership until 1922.[4]

### World War I

[edit]

J. M. Flagg's 1917 poster used to recruit soldiers for both World War I and World War II; Flagg used a modified version of his own face for Uncle Sam, and war veteran Walter Botts provided the pose.[5]

During the World War I years, with Charles Dana Gibson as the acting president,[6] Society members worked through the Committee on Public Information's Division of Pictorial Publicity, creating many original poster designs, including James M. Flagg's US Army iconic recruiting poster of Uncle Sam,[3] as well as advertising of the massive War Bond effort.[2]

Photo journalism was impractical during these years[7] and eight Society members, commissioned Captains in the Engineers, were sent to France to sketch the war.[6]

After the war, the Society operated the School for Disabled Soldiers.[8]

### Between the wars

[edit]

In 1920, the society was incorporated, and in 1922 women were allowed to become full members.[4] The early history of the society was documented in 1927 and 1939 by Norman Mills Price. His handwritten notes are held in the Society of Illustrators archives.[2]

During the 1920s and 1930s, the Society presented the Illustrator's Shows, featuring artists and their models as actors, songwriters, set designers and painters. Professional talent such as the Cotton Club band and Jimmy Durante also performed. Through member and set designer Watson Barrett, the Illustrator's Show of 1925 was held at the Shubert Theatre, and the Shuberts purchased the rights to the skits for their Broadway productions of Artists and Models.

In 1939, those funds allowed the Society to acquire its present headquarters, at 128 East 63rd Street.[3] Norman Rockwell's Dover Coach became the backdrop for the bar on the fourth floor, donated by Rockwell in honor of the Society's new building. This painting currently hangs in the Members Dining Room.[9]

### World War II

[edit]

A 1943 poster illustration by society member C.W. Beuttey for the Office of War Information A 1945 poster illustration by society member Harry Morse for the Office of War Information

During World War II, the society again contributed to the war effort with a massive campaign of posters. Society members visited veterans’ hospitals to sketch the wounded,[3] and these art works were sent to the families to boost morale.

The Illustrator's Jazz Band was formed to entertain the wounded,[10] and an ensemble by the same name plays at Society events up until the present.[11]

### Post-World War II

[edit]

In 1946, a Welfare Fund for indigent artists was established.

In 1948, the Joint Ethics Committee, of which The Society is a member[12] developed the first Code of Fair Practice, which still serves today in addressing concerns of artists and art directors working in the graphic communications field where abuses and misunderstandings regarding usage rights and ownership of works of illustration and other works of art created for a wide range of public media.[13]

In 1954, the U.S. Air Force began sending Society of Illustrators members around the world to document the Air Force's activities. This program continues today. Thousands of paintings have been contributed over the years.[14]

In 1959, the society hold its first Annual Exhibition, juried by Bob Peak, Bradbury Thompson, Stevan Dohanos, and others. It opened with 350 original works of art and led to the publication of the first Illustrators Annual.[15]

The Society opened its doors to the public in 1981, establishing the Museum of American Illustration, with regular public exhibitions.[12]

### 21st century

[edit]

In 2001, the 100th anniversary of the society's founding, a 12-month celebration began with the U.S. Postal Service issuing the Great American Illustrators.[16] That year was punctuated with the 9/11 Memorial Exhibition, Prevailing Human Spirit.[17]

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) endowed its assets in August 2012 to the society, which has since subsidized the MoCCA Festival.[3]

Anelle Miller was appointed executive director of the society in 2007 and served in that capacity until 2023. She updated the exhibition space, hired new staff, and instituted a slew of programs open to the general public.[18] Arabelle Liepold took the position in June 2023.[19]

The Society of Illustrators maintains an annual of illustration, student scholarship competitions and various awards honoring excellence in the field of illustration.[12] The society has had outreach programs with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation since 2001,[20] and with the New York City Board of Education since 1999.[21]

## Presidents

[edit]

As of 2023, the president of the Society of Illustrators is Leslie Cober.[22]

Notable past presidents of the Society:[22]

* Charles Dana Gibson (1904–1905, 1909–1920)
* Albert Sterner (1907–1908) — founding member
* George Hand Wright (1926–1927)
* Wallace Morgan (1929–1936)
* Harold von Schmidt (1938–1941)
* Albert Dorne (1947–1948)

## Museum of American Illustration and Exhibitions

[edit]

The main upstairs gallery at the Museum of American Illustration in June 2015

The Museum of American Illustration was established at the society in 1981, under the stewardship of John Witt, the society's president.[12] The Society's permanent collection, featuring pieces on rotational display throughout the building, includes nearly 2500 works by such artists as Norman Rockwell, Howard Pyle, N.C. Wyeth, James Montgomery Flagg, Bob Peak, and Bernie Fuchs.[23]

The Museum hosts the Annual Illustration show and smaller topical exhibits related to illustration and comics.[24] In recent years, the main galleries have played host to numerous acclaimed, contemporary, and popular exhibitions including:

* R. Crumb: Lines Drawn on Paper (March 23 - April 11, 2011), curated by Monte Beauchamp.[25]
* Maurice Sendak: A Celebration of the Artist and his Work (June 11 - August 17, 2013), curated by Justin Schiller and Dennis David.[26][27]
* The ZAP Show (March 2 - May 17, 2016), curated by Monte Beauchamp and Eric Sack.[28][29]
* Will Eisner: The Centennial Celebration 1917–2017 (March 1 - June 3, 2017).[30][31]
* The Art of MARCH: A Civil Rights Masterpiece (February 28 - June 30, 2018), curated by John Lind and Charles Brownstein.[32][33]
* Illustrating Batman: Eighty Years of Comics and Pop Culture (June 12 - October 12, 2019), curated by Rob Pistella, John Lind, and Chip Kidd.[34][35]

The Society also has a gallery on the second floor dedicated to MoCCA that frequently hosts smaller exhibits of comic book art.

## Recognition

[edit]

The Society of Illustrators inaugurated the Hall of Fame program in 1958, to recognize "distinguished achievement in the art of illustration".[36] The first recipient was Norman Rockwell.[6] Like other recognized artists, he was elected by former Society presidents for his contributions to the field of illustration. Every year since 1958, one or more illustrators have been added to the Hall of Fame. In 2001, two additional forms of recognition were added: Dean Cornwell Recognition Award[37] and the Arthur William Brown Achievement Award, which may be awarded annually.

In 1965, The Society established the Hamilton King Award, which is given annually to one society member.[38]

In 1981, The Society established the Student Scholarship Competition, which has continued annually to the present.[39] The Highest Award presented to a student by the society is the Zankel Scholarship Award, established in 2006 in honor of Arthur Zankel, an advocate for higher education whose bequest made the scholarship possible.[40]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Catalogue of The Second Annual Exhibition of the Society of Illustrators, 1903" (PDF). Detroit Area Library Network. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
2. ^ a b c Brown, Terrance. "Historic Rights Issues in American Illustration". The Journal of Biocommunication. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
3. ^ a b c d e King, Carol (March 20, 2013). "Leader Unafraid to Venture Outside of the Lines". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
4. ^ a b Grove, Jaleen (February 11, 2015). "A Brief History Of Sexism And The Illustration Industry". Ravishly. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
5. ^ "The Most Famous Poster". American Treasures of the Library of Congress. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016.
6. ^ a b c Jonkhoff, Sabrina. "3 Things to Know About the Society of Illustrators". New York Adventure Club. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
7. ^ Roberts, Hilary. "Photography 1914-1918". Encyclopedia of the first world war. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
8. ^ Rogers, W.A. (March 1, 1924). Bowles, J.M. (ed.). "Making Good". Bulletin of the Art Center, New York. 2 (7).
9. ^ Soloman, Deborah (November 5, 2013). American Mirror: The Life and Art of Norman Rockwell. Macmillan. p. 167\. ISBN 9780374711047. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
10. ^ Kilgannon, Corey (April 26, 2005). "Nudes on Stage, and Music to Sketch By". The New York Times. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
11. ^ Sloan, Michael. "About Michael Sloan". Retrieved December 15, 2016.
12. ^ a b c d "History of The Society of Illustrators". Society of Illustrators. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
13. ^ "The Code of Fair Practice for the Graphic Communications Industry". Graphic Artist Guild. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
14. ^ Hannon, Greg. "Society of Illustrators visits U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center". Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
15. ^ "llustrators '59: The First annual of American Illustration". Abe Books. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
16. ^ Kronish, Syd. "Postal service pays tribute to illustrators". LJ World. Associated Press. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
17. ^ McKinley, Jesse (February 2, 2002). "$25,000 Raised by Artists Helps Sept. 11 Charities". The New York Times. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
18. ^ Kino, Carol (March 20, 2013). "Leader Unafraid to Venture Outside of the Lines". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
19. ^ MacDonald, Heidi (May 2, 2023). "Arabelle Liepold to take over as Executive Director at Society of Illustrators". The Beat.
20. ^ Hoory, Leeron (March 30, 2016). "When It Comes to Art in New York City Parks, Jonathan Kuhn Knows His Stuff". Garden Collage. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
21. ^ "ANNUAL ARTS IN SCHOOLS REPORT 2014-2015" (PDF). New York Department of Education. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
22. ^ a b "Board and Staff". Retrieved February 22, 2020.
23. ^ "More Than The Museum Can Hold: A Purposeful Partnership". Art Director's Club. October 28, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
24. ^ "Illustrators 60 Exhibit: Part Two | Society of Illustrators". www.societyillustrators.org. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
25. ^ "R. Crumb retrospective exhibit at Society of Illustrators opens in March". Fantagraphics. February 24, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
26. ^ Murg, Stephanie (June 10, 2013). "Where the Wild Things Art: Sendak Gets the Spotlight". ARTnews.com. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
27. ^ Kahn, Eve M. (August 1, 2013). "For Fans of Sendak, the Artist Keeps Giving". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
28. ^ "The ZAP Show: A Cultural Revolution | Society of Illustrators". www.societyillustrators.org. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
29. ^ "Zap Atcha: How Underground Comix Spelunked America's Id | The Village Voice". www.villagevoice.com. April 5, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
30. ^ "WILL EISNER: The Centennial Celebration 1917-2017 | Society of Illustrators". www.societyillustrators.org. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
31. ^ "Will Eisner's Universal New York Stories | The Village Voice". www.villagevoice.com. March 7, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
32. ^ "MARCH | Society of Illustrators". www.societyillustrators.org. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
33. ^ "AI-AP | DART » Upcoming Exhibition: The Art of MARCH". www.ai-ap.com. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
34. ^ Gustines, George Gene (June 26, 2019). "Batman Through the Decades, in Black and White". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
35. ^ Horne, Karama (July 11, 2019). "New York has a bonanza of Batman art, toys, and ads for his 80th birthday". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
36. ^ "Homepage".
37. ^ "Dean Cornwell". National Museum of American Illustration. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
38. ^ "Hamilton King Award – Society of Illustrators". Retrieved June 20, 2022.
39. ^ "Society of Illustrators Student Scholarship Competition". The University of the Arts. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
40. ^ "Zankel Scholar". University of the Arts. Retrieved December 10, 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Children and Young Adult Literature portal

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Society of Illustrators' Hall of Fame

1958–1959

| 1958|

* Norman Rockwell

|

1959|

* Dean Cornwell
* Harold von Schmidt

1960–1969

| 1960|

* Fred Cooper

|

1961|

* Floyd Davis

1962|

* Edward A. Wilson

1963|

* Walter Biggs

1964|

* Arthur William Brown

1965|

* Al Parker

1966|

* Albert Dorne

1967|

* Robert Fawcett

1968|

* Peter Helck

1969|

* Austin Briggs

1970–1979

| 1970|

* Rube Goldberg

|

1971|

* Stevan Dohanos

1972|

* Ray Prohaska

1973|

* Jon Whitcomb

1974|

* Charles Dana Gibson
* Tom Lovell
* N. C. Wyeth

1975|

* Bernie Fuchs
* Maxfield Parrish
* Howard Pyle

1976|

* Harvey Dunn
* John Falter
* Winslow Homer

1977|

* J. C. Leyendecker
* Wallace Morgan
* Robert Peak

1978|

* Norman Price
* Frederic Remington
* Coby Whitmore

1979|

* Edwin Austin Abbey
* Lorraine Fox
* Ben Stahl

1980–1989

| 1980|

* Howard Chandler Christy
* James Montgomery Flagg
* Saul Tepper

|

1981|

* Stan Galli
* John Gannam
* Frederic R. Gruger

1982|

* John Clymer
* Carl Erickson
* Henry P. Raleigh

1983|

* Franklin Booth
* Mark English
* Noel Sickles

1984|

* John La Gatta
* Neysa McMein
* James Williamson

1985|

* Arthur Burdett Frost
* Charles Marion Russell
* Robert Weaver

1986|

* Al Hirschfeld
* Rockwell Kent

1987|

* Maurice Sendak
* Haddon Sundblom

1988|

* René Bouché
* Pruett Carter
* Robert T. McCall

1989|

* Erté
* John Held Jr.
* Arthur Ignatius Keller

1990–1999

| 1990|

* Robert Riggs
* Morton Roberts
* Burt Silverman

|

1991|

* Jessie Willcox Smith
* William Arthur Smith
* Donald Teague

1992|

* Joe Bowler
* Edwin A. Georgi
* Dorothy Hood

1993|

* Robert McGinnis
* Thomas Nast
* Coles Phillips

1994|

* Harry Anderson
* Elizabeth Shippen Green
* Ben Shahn

1995|

* James Avati
* McClelland Barclay
* Joseph Clement Coll
* Frank Schoonover

1996|

* Anton Otto Fischer
* Winsor McCay
* Violet Oakley
* Mead Schaeffer
* Herbert Tauss

1997|

* Chesley Bonestell
* Joe DeMers
* Diane Dillon
* Leo Dillon
* Maynard Dixon
* Harrison Fisher
* Frank McCarthy

1998|

* Boris Artzybasheff
* Robert M. Cunningham
* Kerr Eby
* Frank Frazetta
* Edward Penfield
* Martha Sawyers

1999|

* Mitchell Hooks
* Andrew Loomis
* Antonio Lopez
* Stanley Meltzoff
* Thomas Moran
* Rose O'Neill
* Adolph Treidler

2000–2009

| 2000|

* James Bama
* Nell Brinkley
* Charles Livingston Bull
* David Stone Martin
* Alice and Martin Provensen
* J. Allen St. John

|

2001|

* John James Audubon
* Will H. Bradley
* Howard Brodie
* F. O. C. Darley
* Charles R. Knight
* Franklin McMahon

2002|

* E. Simms Campbell
* Milton Glaser
* Jean-Leon Huens
* Daniel Schwartz

2003|

* Elaine Duillo
* David Levine
* Bill Mauldin
* Jack Potter

2004|

* John Berkey
* John Groth
* Robert Andrew Parker
* Saul Steinberg

2005|

* Jack Davis
* Brad Holland
* Herbert Paus
* Albert Beck Wenzell

2006|

* Gilbert Bundy
* Bradshaw Crandell
* Keith Ferris
* Harold Foster
* Frank H. Netter
* Alvin J. Pimsler
* Jack Unruh

2007|

* David Grove
* Gary Kelley
* Edward Windsor Kemble
* Russell Patterson
* George Stavrinos

2008|

* Benton Clark
* Matt Clark
* Kinuko Y. Craft
* Naiad Einsel
* Walter Einsel

2009|

* Mario Cooper
* Paul Davis
* Laurence Fellows
* Arnold Roth
* Herbert Morton Stoops

2010–2019

| 2010|

* Charles Edward Chambers
* Earl Oliver Hurst
* Orson Lowell
* Wilson McLean
* Chris Van Allsburg

|

2011|

* Kenneth Paul Block
* Alan E. Cober
* Robert Heindel
* Fred Otnes
* Jerry Pinkney

2012|

* Ludwig Bemelmans
* R. O. Blechman
* John Collier
* Edward Gorey
* John Sloan
* Nancy Stahl

2013|

* Ted CoConis
* George Herriman
* Sanford Kossin
* Arthur Rackham
* Charles M. Schulz
* Murray Tinkelman

2014|

* Mary Blair
* Walter Everett
* Al Jaffee
* Syd Mead
* William Cameron Menzies
* Alex Raymond
* Edward Sorel

2015|

* Bernard D'Andrea
* Walter M. Baumhofer
* Will Eisner
* Virgil Finlay
* Ted Lewin and Betsy Lewin
* Pat Oliphant
* Arthur Szyk

2016|

* Marshall Arisman
* Rolf Armstrong
* Guy Billout
* Peter de Sève
* William Glackens
* Beatrix Potter
* Richard M. Powers

2017|

* Mort Drucker
* Bart Forbes
* Anita Kunz
* Ralph Steadman
* Burne Hogarth
* George Petty
* Gustaf Tenggren

2018|

* Robert Crumb
* Kate Greenaway
* René Gruau
* Jack Kirby
* Heinrich Kley
* Hilary Knight
* James McMullan
* Kay Nielsen
* C. F. Payne

2019|

* Alice Barber Stephens
* Mary Petty
* Frank Godwin
* Mark Summers
* Vincent Di Fate
* Roz Chast

2020–2029

| 2020|

* Thomas Blackshear
* Edmund Dulac
* Jean Henri Gaston Giraud (Mœbius)
* Jeffrey Catherine Jones
* Barbara Nessim
* Drew Struzan

|

2021|

* Braldt Bralds
* Margaret Brundage
* Walter Percy Day
* Dale Messick
* Craig Mullins
* Floyd Norman

2022|

* Charles Addams
* George Booth
* Emory Douglas
* Brian and Wendy Froud
* Reynold Ruffins
* Sarah S. Stilwell Weber

2023|

* Richard Amsel
* Anna Whelan Betts
* Reynold Brown
* Seymour Chwast
* Helen Hokinson
* Wendell Minor
* Barron Storey

2024|

* Steve Brodner
* Gustave Doré
* Robert Grossman
* Gregory Manchess
* Yuko Shimizu
* Virginia Frances Sterrett

2025|

* Marie Severin
* Frank R. Paul
* Peter Arno
* Tim O' Brien
* Kadir Nelson
* Rudy Gutierrez

Authority control databases

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People|

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