0.6 1879 minutes of the new york etching club  (Page 3/3)

At 10.30 the meeting was regularly adjourned.

Approved, Dec 8’ 1879.

James D. Smillie

Money received by Jas. D. Smillie, Treasure.

From T. W. Wood . . . . $2.00) money distributed as p’_accepted bill.

“L. M. Yale 2.00) To Postage 3.50

“Hy Farrer 2.00) “ Gas 2.25

F. Dielman 2.00) Old members “ Beer 2.50

Chas Reinhart 2.00) “ Book for minutes 85

“ Stationary 1.00 10.10

S. Colman 2.00)

J. D. Smillie 2.00) 5.90 Bal.On hand

Chas Vanderhoff 1.00} new members

Kruseman Van Elten 1.00 James D. Smillie Treas’.¨

======= 16.00

It is probable, based on careful study of the original handwritten copy of the minutes, that James D. Smillie recorded the first twenty-three pages of the club meetings elsewhere and re-wrote them sometime between February and December 1879 in the extant copy. His presentation and the consistency of these earliest minutes is nearly flawless. Supporting this observation is reference in the February 10, 1879, minutes to 85 cents being spent on a “Book for minutes.” At this point, the secretary job now goes over to James Craig Nicole, in whose handwriting the next minutes were recorded.

December 8th 1879.

The monthly meeting was held at this date in the President’s studio

The meeting was called to order at halfpast eight P.M. by the President with fourteen members present.

The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and approved.

Mr. Edwin Forbes was proposed for membership by Messers Church, Baldwin and

Gifford.

Etchings were exhibited of follows – viz:

11 by Mr. Farrer

4 “ Church

3 “ Colman

5 ‘ “ Nicoll

1 “ “ Sabin

5 “ “ Deilman

Upon motion by Mr. Gifford duly seconded&carried Mr. Shirlaw was appointed as committee to urge upon delinquent members the necessity of attending to their duties.

Mr. Church mentioned that Messers Scribnir&Co were desirous of publishing an article upon the Etching Club. – it’s members to furnish illustrations, and the publishers the written portion.

It was afterwards resolved, upon motion duly made&seconded, that the President appoint a committee of two to arrange with Messers Scribner&Co for the publication of such article. – Messrs Church and Gifford were appointed. No article about the New York Etching Club appeared in any issue of Scribner’s Magazine published during 1880 or 1881. The June 1880 issue’s “The Art Season” column contains review notes of the American Watercolor Society exhibition but does not mention the club by name. Several New York Etching Club members exhibited etchings during at this annual event but only Henry Farrer’s prints are mentioned in the review. Interestingly, the April 1880 issue of Scribner’s Monthly contained an article entitled “Growth of Woodcut.” The magazine published articles shortly thereafter on the recently founded Tile Club and the Salmagundi Sketch Club. In August 1879, Scribner’s published a substantial piece entitled “Whistler in Painting and Etching” that included reproductions of several of his etchings.

Upon motion of Mr. Gifford, seconded by Mr. Shirlaw, it was resolved that Mr. Bellows and the President be appointed a committee to examine into the feasibility of holding an exhibition of Etchings in the National Academy of Design and report to the Executive Committee who shall have full power to arrange with the American Water Color Society for holding such exhibition if deemed desirable.

No other business being presented the meeting adjourned at halfpast ten.

Approved Jany 12/80

J. C. Nicoll

Sect.