Dallas Print and Drawing Society

Biographical Note

The Dallas Print and Drawing Society was found in 1935 by Mrs. A.E. Zonne. Along with Mrs. Zonne some of the founding members included Mrs. Lucious La Marr, Mr. Alexandere Hogue, Ms. Eleanor Benners, Mrs. Alfred Bromberg, Ms. Violet Hayden, Mr. Wortham Collins, Mrs. Arthur Kramer, Sr., and Mrs. A.I. Folsom.

The Society soon became associated with the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts and helped to sponsor print exhibits beginning in 1941 with the 1st Annual Texas Print Exhibition. The Society would go on to sponsor and champion printmaking in the Southwest region by holding the annual Southwestern Exhibition of Prints and Drawings. Along with the exhibitions the Society also held programs and lectures on various aspects of prints including history, printmaking, and collecting by bringing in various artists and historians. Many of these programs were held at either the Dallas Public Library or the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, or often times as well, members would open their homes for these events.

The Dallas Print and Drawing Society also helped to donate funds to the Dallas Public Library to help build its print collection in its Fine Arts Department. The first exhibition of the reference print collection took place on March 17, 1969 at the DPL. The collection was further helped by donations when two prominent members of the Society passed away, Sawnie Aldredge and Calvin J. Holmes. A memorial fund was set up in the name of Sawnie Aldredge which helped to purchase reference prints for the Library's collection (the first being a Vasarely print purchased in 1968), and Calvin Holmes donated part of his print collection to the Library.

Other projects the Society was involved in included operating their own print shop that helped to raise money for sponsored shows, and asking galleries for donations of prints that could then be raffled off as another way to raise money. The Society also made every attempt to showcase local or regional artists, professors, or collectors in their exhibitions and programs.

Scope and Contents

The collection contains materials dating from 1940-1978. There is correspondence, financial ledgers, receipts, expense reports, invoices, membership lists, newsletters, and other general information pertaining to the Dallas Print and Drawing Society.

Some of the correspondence is concering specific topics or persons, such as the Sawnie Aldredge Memorial Fund, a visit from artist June Wayne, artist Howard Bradford, and general correspondence from Calvin Holmes.

In addition there is also materials collected on printmaking. There are exhibition catalogs, program and lecture invitations and notices, and other general items related to prints and printmaking.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

MA10-3 Dallas Print and Drawing Society, Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library

Processing Information

Processed by Jeff Parker

Detailed Description of the Collection