DescriptionThe National Association of Women Artists (NAWA) was established in 1889 and is the oldest professional women's fine arts organization in the United States. NAWA's mission is to promote awareness of, and interest in, visual art created by women in the United States. As part of this effort NAWA holds an annual exhibition of works by members of the association and publishes an exhibition catalog to accompany or commemorate the annual exhibitions. These catalogs not only function as an exhibition catalog, but also as a document that summarizes the structure, membership, and activities of the association.
Information that can be found in these catalogs includes lists of officers, members of the executive board and committees, prize winners, lists of exhibitor and members, and images of some of the artwork exhibited. Catalogs from the 2000s also include information on NAWA events and activities beyond the annual exhibition.
Please note that the numbering of the annual catalogs was adjusted in 1960 and again in 1971. For example, NAWA designated the annual exhibition in 1960 as the 70th Anniversary Exhibition after 1959 was the 67th Annual Exhibition. These adjustments appear to have been made to reflect the date of the founding of the association, so that, by 1989, the annual exhibition commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the founding of NAWA in 1889.
NoteCatalog for an exhibition held at the National Academy Galleries, 1083 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, from April 21 - May 19, 1945.
CollectionNational Association of Women Artists, annual exhibition catalog
Organization NameRutgers University. Libraries. Special Collections and University Archives
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