University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Seven Arts Society (Milwaukee, Wis.).

Records, 1934-2003.

UWM Manuscript Collection 58

4.4 cubic ft. (7 boxes)

ABSTRACT: Records consist of the administrative files of the Society, which supported public interest in the arts. Includes minutes of the Board of Directors meetings and treasurer's reports, the Society's annual art exhibition, minutes of annual meetings, annual reports of the various interest groups, and extensive minutes of the Painters' Group meetings. Files contain the Society's monthly newsletter and the administrative materials and news clippings pertaining to the Piano Talenteens competition. There are membership rosters, officers' reports and scrapbooks of news clippings and administrative items. One folder contains materials on the Wisconsin Composers Program, a biennial event which featured the music of Wisconsin composers. Several pieces of member artwork are included in the records.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

ARRANGEMENT: The files are organized alphabetically by personal name, name of office, or by subject, then chronologically. Files can contain a variety of materials, including correspondence, staff memos, and reports.

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY: The Seven Arts Society was founded in February of 1932. The Society supported various interest groups focusing on architecture, painting, sculpture, drama, literature, music, and photography. The Society created and maintained the Wisconsin Composers Program, a biennial program which allowed composers from around the state to present their music. It also created the Piano Talenteens competition, which publicized teenage pianists in the Milwaukee area, and provided scholarships for students at the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee. The Seven Arts Society dissolved at the end of 1991 due to declining membership. The Painters' Group, a subgroup, continued under the name Seven Arts and held annual exhibitions. Seven Arts disbanded in 2003 due to lack of interest and support.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Seven Arts Society (Milwaukee, Wis.). Records, 1934-2003. UWM Manuscript Collection 58. University Manuscript Collection. Archives. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

ACQUISITION: Elizabeth Schneider donated the collection to the Archives in 1991 (accession number 1991-019). Additional material was donated to the collection in November 1999 (accession number 1999-044) by Patty Ann Jerving, Elsbeth Sears, and Bret Sears. Patty Ann Jerving donated additional material to the collection in March 2004 (accession number 2003-075).

PROCESSING: Bill Jackson initially processed the collection at the Archives in September 1994 through March 1995. Leslie Heinrichs further processed the collection in September 1999. Anna Stadick processed accession 1999-044 in January through February 2000. William Dodds processed accession 2003-075 in November-December 2006.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

Architecture--Associations, institutions, etc.--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Art--Associations, institutions, etc.--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Art--Wisconsin--Milwaukee--Exhibitions.
Drama--Associations, institutions, etc.--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Literature--Associations, institutions, etc.--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Music--Wisconsin--Milwaukee--Societies, etc.
Photography--Associations, institutions, etc.--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Sculpture--Associations, institutions, etc.--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Wisconsin Composers Program.

UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 58	BOX	FOLDER
Aims and Objectives, 1942-1990	1	1
Annual Committee Reports, 1954-1970	1	2
Annual Meeting Minutes, 1941-1990	1	3
Annual Painters' Exhibition, 1940-1999	1	4
Annual Painters' Exhibition, 2000-2001	7	1
Art Group, Membership Roster, undated	1	5
Board of Directors, Minutes, 1939-1951	1	6
Board of Directors, Minutes, 1952-1957	1	7
Board of Directors, Minutes, 1958-1963	1	8
Board of Directors, Minutes, 1964-1972	1	9
Board of Directors, Minutes, 1973-1983	1	10
Board of Directors, Minutes, 1984-1991	1	11
Brochures, 2000-2003	7	2
By-Laws, 1941-1982	1	12
By-Laws of the Music Group, undated	1	13
By-Laws of the Painters Group, 1940	1	14
Calendar of Events, 1993-2000	2	46
Calendar of Events, 2000-2003	7	3
Calendars of General Meetings, 1960-1991	1	15
Charles Allis Art Museum, 1967-1989	1	16
Christmas Dinners and Programs, 1943-1991	1	17
Constitution and By-Laws, undated	2	47
Correspondence, 1938-1992	1	18
Correspondence, 1993-1999	2	48
Correspondence, 1998-2003, undated	7	4
Corresponding Secretary, Annual Reports, 1952-1991	1	19
Deceased Members and Memorials, 1954-1999	1	20
Drama Guild, Annual Reports, 1940-1958	1	21
Duties of Board of Directors, Standing Committees and Group Chairmen, undated	1	22
Exhibitions and Performances, 1935-1993	1	23
Fiftieth Anniversary, 1982	1	24
Finance Chairmen, Annual Reports, 1940-1972	1	25
Finance Committee, Reports, 1961-1962	1	26
Financial Ledger, 1994-2003	7	5
First Vice President's Reports, 1968-1969	1	27
Fox Valley Photographic Society, Newsletters, 1988-1991	1	28
"Gaite Parisienne" Party, 1951	1	29
Graphics Group, Annual Reports, 1943-1961	1	30
Graphics Group, Programs and Exhibitions, 1952-1957	1	31
Guests Book, 1935-1978	4
Guests Book, 2003	7	6
Gumz, Estella, Last Will and Testament, 1960-1961	1	32
Heinz Roemheld Article, 1989	1	33
"Historical Sketch of the Photographic Group," 1967	1	34
History, 1942-1992	1	35
Hospitality Chairman, Annual Reports, 1952-1981	1	36
House Chairman, Annual Reports, 1953-1983	1	37
Last Luncheon, 2003	7	7
Letterhead, undated	2	49
Literature Group, Annual Reports, 1955-1983	1	38
Meeting Agendas, 2001-2002	7	8
Meeting Minutes, 2000, 2003	7	9
Membership Applications, 1998, undated	2	50
Membership Applications, 2000-2002, undated	7	10
Membership Committee, 1956-1992	1	39
Membership Rosters, 1940-1999	1	40
Membership Rosters, 2000-2002	7	11
Messages From the President, 1944-1988	1	41
Metropolitan Arts Council, 1960-1963	1	43
Music-Drama Group, Annual Reports, 1942-1991	1	42
Music-Drama Group, Notebook, 1966-1971	1	44
Music-Drama Group, Notebook, 1971-1980	1	45
Music-Drama Group, Notebook, 1980-1992	1	46
Music Guild, Annual Reports, 1941-1961	1	48
National Art Week, 1940	1	47
News Clippings, 1960-1991	1	49
News Clippings, 1960-2002	7	12
New Member Recruitment Materials, 1987-1990	2	51
Newsletter Chairman's Reports, 1973-1990	1	50
Newsletters, 1952-1958	2	1
Newsletters, 1959-1971	2	2
Newsletters, 1972-1979	2	3
Newsletters, 1980-1999	2	4
Newsletters, 1999-2003	7	13
Nominating Committee, Reports, 1962, 1991	2	5
Officer and Group Chairmen's Reports, 1975-1979	2	6
Painters' and Sculptors' Group, Meeting Minutes, 1945-1952	2	56
Painters' Group, Annual Reports, 1940-1988	2	7
Painters' Group, Correspondence, 1945-1950	2	52
Painters' Group, Meeting Minutes, 1938-1945	2	53
Painters' Group, Meeting Minutes, 1983-1989	2	54
Painters' Group, Meeting Minutes, 1991	2	55
Painters' Group, Membership Roster, undated	2	8
Painters', Sculptors' and Architects' Group, Meeting Agendas and Minutes, 1958-1960	2	9
Painters', Sculptors' and Architects' Group, Meeting Minutes, 1952-1954	2	57
Painters', Sculptors', Architects', and Photographic Groups, Programs, 1941-1971	2	10
Painting, "Early Morning: Looking Out From Myself," Doug Jerving, 2000	6	6
Painting, "Emergence," Evelyn Pongracic, undated	6	1
Painting, "Lakefront Trees III," Doug Jerving, 1992	6	8
Painting, "Martha," Evelyn Pongracic, undated	6	2
Painting, "Relaxed Ms.," Evelyn Pongracic, undated	6	3
Painting, "Sunlight Windows with Self-Portrait," Patty Jerving, 1999	6	7
Painting, Untitled, Evelyn Pongracic, 1968	6	4
Painting, Untitled, Evelyn Pongracic, 1969	6	5
Painting, Untitled, Leila Hentzen Smith, undated	6	9
Painting, Untitled, Richard H. Smith, undated	6	10
Personnel, 1965-1989	2	11
Photo-Graphic Group, Constitution, 1965	2	12
Photo-Graphic Group, Correspondence, 1941-1991	2	13
Photo-Graphic Group, Minutes, 1940-1991	2	14
Photographs, 1969	2	15
Photographs, 1999	2	58
Photographs, 2000	7	14
Photographs, 2001	7	15
Photographs, 2003	7	16
Photography Group, Annual Reports, 1961-1990	2	16
Piano Talenteens Competition, 1953-1970	2	17
Piano Talenteens Competition, Brochures and Programs, 1954-1970	2	18
Piano Talenteens Competition, News Clippings, 1957-1970	2	19
Piano Talenteens, Plaque of Appreciation to Committee, 1969	2	59
President's Annual Reports, 1969-1970	2	20
Program Chairman's Annual Reports, 1969-1970	2	21
Programs of General Meetings, 1964-1978	2	22
Project Development, 1999-2003	7	17
Publicity Chairperson, Reports, 1940-1991	2	23
Recording Secretary, Reports, 1942, 1969-1973	2	24
Referenda Tabulation, 1990	2	25
Reports of the Historian, 1954-1976	2	26
Scrapbook, 1934-1949	3
Scrapbook, (Book #2), 1946-1953	3
Scrapbook, (Book #3), 1954-1959	4
Scrapbook, (Book #4), 1947-1964	4
Scrapbook of Administrative Items, 1942-1957	2	27
Scrapbook of Administrative Items, 1962-1968	2	28
Scheibe, Royal A., Last Will and Testament, 1960	2	29
Second Vice President's Reports, 1962-1979	2	30
Seven Arts Biography, undated	7	18
Seven Arts Song, undated	7	19
Shutter Clicks, Manitowoc Camera Roundtable Newsletter, 1990-1991	2	31
67th Anniversary Celebration, 1999	7	20
Sketch by Patty Jerving, 1998	7	21
Slides, 1963-1972	2	32
Special Interest, 1963-1990	2	33
Special Meetings, Agendas and Minutes, 1948, 1990	2	34
Treasurer's Ledger, 1943-1950	5
Treasurer's Ledger, 1950-1956	5
Treasurer's Ledger, 1956-1961	5
Treasurer's Ledger, 1961-1962	5
Treasurer's Reports, 1941-1954	2	35
Treasurer's Reports, 1955-1965	2	36
Treasurer's Reports, 1966-1972	2	37
Treasurer's Reports, 1973-1984	2	38
Treasurer's Reports, 1985-1991	2	39
Treasurer's Reports, 1999-2003	7	22
Vice President's Report, 1970	2	40
Wisconsin Area Camera Clubs Organization, Competition Announcements, 1987-1991	2	41
Wisconsin Area Camera Clubs Organization, News, 1988-1991	2	42
Wisconsin Composers Programs, 1959-1984	2	43
Wisconsin Designer-Craftsmen, Bulletins, 1945-1957	2	44
Wisconsin Society of Applied Arts, Exhibition, 1935	2	45
Workshops and Presentations, 1993, 1999, undated	2	61