Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-01

cation which is really national
~ was established in this city and
has it's headquarters here. This
is the American Federation of Arts, the
office of which is in the historic "Octa-
gon. 18th street and New York avenue.
1t was organized in May, 1909. at con-
vention in the New Willard. called by the
National Academy of Art. of which j.
Pierpont Morgan is president The OBJ
ject was to form national organization
somewhat similar to the National Bar
Association-onc which would bind TO-
gcther all the art associations In TINS
country and furnish a channel through
which public opinion influential in secur-
ing better legislation i'll matters pertain
ing to art might find expression.
That was before the days of the federal
commission of fine arts and while there
was still tariff on all art Already. how
ever. there were signs of an awakening
of interest in art throughout the country
and it was thought that the time was
ripe for the binding together and con-
centration of these interests.
There was a good deal of enthusiasm at
that first convention and it was not i'll
founded The men who organized the
American Federation of Arts We're far
seeing and Northumberland men as
Senator Root, Robert Bacon, the late
William f. Curtis. Glenn Brown, Charles
l.. Hutchinson of Chicago and the late
+. D. Millet. The late Charles NJ. Ffoulke
was deeply interested in the project and
majority of the meetings. at which ten
tative plans We're made for the conven-
ton of organization. Were held in his
avenue residence. The federation was. in
fact. the outgrowth not merely of the
National Academy in which Kate Field
was originally the moving spirit. but of
the Washington Society OF the Fine Arts.
which came into existence under the
name National.
At the organizing convention Charles
l.. Hutchinson. the president of the Art
Institute of Chicago. was elected presi-
dent and Frank d. Millet. secretary, the
one serving for three years and the
other until his death. Among the first
board of directors were many distin-
guished men.
THREE and half years have passed.
The American Federation of Arts
has nov 10 chapters-that is, affiliated
Organizations-scattere throughout the
United States, the aggregate membership
of which amounts to over 80, OO0. These
chapters. which comprise art museums,
PROFESSIONAL CIVIC dSSOCid-
tions. colleges woman's clubs and art So
cieties, are in almost every state in the
Union from Maine to California and from
Minnesota to Texas. With all of these
cha piers the main office here in Wash
ington keeps in constant touch. serving
not only as a distributing center. but as
a general clearing house. initiating effort
and preventing to a great extent duplica-
ton. If at any time one should want to
know just what is being done in the
world of art in certain state or city, all
one would have to do would be to make
inquiry at the head office of the fedora
ton. This is helpful almost beyond ex-
pectaton. For instance. small city
wishes to establish art museum.
Through the American Federation of
Arts it is put into communication with
lately established museums in other cities
of similar size and is enabled to benefit
by their experience. Or certain persons
in a western town wish TO organize an
art society. letter setting forth cOndi-
tons is sent to the federation and Il
mode of procedure which has proved sue
cessful elsewhere is secured. In innumer-
able instances those who are endeavoring
to Lpbuild appreciation by tangible means
have been put into communication with
other workers in the same field who are a