Georgine Shillard-Smith: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Georgine Shillard-Smith.jpg|220px|right|thumb|Portrait of Georgine Shillard-Smith,<br> by Hugh Henry Breckenridge.]] | |||
'''Georgine Northrup Wetherill Smith''', later known as Georgine Shillard-Smith, was an American artist and arts patron, and a member of the [[Theosophical Society in America]]. She was responsible for commissioning the [[Olcott murals|murals]] that were painted for the [[L. W. Rogers Building]] on the Society's headquarters campus. She also donated other art works and a large parcel of land. | '''Georgine Northrup Wetherill Smith''', later known as Georgine Shillard-Smith, was an American artist and arts patron, and a member of the [[Theosophical Society in America]]. She was responsible for commissioning the [[Olcott murals|murals]] that were painted for the [[L. W. Rogers Building]] on the Society's headquarters campus. She also donated other art works and a large parcel of land. | ||
== Personal life == | == Personal life == | ||
Georgine Northrup Wetherill was born on March 2, 1873 in Philadelphia.<ref>U. S. Passport application, October 5, 1893.</ref> On April 18, 1893 she married Charles Shillard Smith (September 10, 1864 - November 25, 1946) at a Unitarian Church. He was a wool merchant and a director of the United Security Life Insurance and Trust Co. of Pennsylvania<ref>Trust Companies of the United States, 1917 edition. Page 423. Available from [http://books.google.com/books?id=8sojAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA423&lpg=PA423&dq=charles+shillard+smith&source=bl&ots=haPt9dG0Pb&sig=csxi6cc1xUbym9yZVowsrnGrnNk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=BgzkUvqxDOLmyQHFvIHQCw&ved=0CDMQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=charles%20shillard%20smith&f=false Google Books.]</ref> They had a daughter Christine who was born in 1910. The family was affluent and traveled the world.<ref>"Label Resource: Leser, Tina". Vintage Fashion Guild [http://vintagefashionguild.org/labels/12 website.]</ref> Active in Philadelphia society, their names appeared in periodicals such as ''Town and Country'', the New York Times, and in society columns of other newspapers. | Georgine Northrup Wetherill was born on March 2, 1873 in Philadelphia.<ref>U. S. Passport application, October 5, 1893.</ref> On April 18, 1893 she married Charles Shillard Smith (September 10, 1864 - November 25, 1946) at a Unitarian Church. He was a wool merchant and a director of the United Security Life Insurance and Trust Co. of Pennsylvania<ref>Trust Companies of the United States, 1917 edition. Page 423. Available from [http://books.google.com/books?id=8sojAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA423&lpg=PA423&dq=charles+shillard+smith&source=bl&ots=haPt9dG0Pb&sig=csxi6cc1xUbym9yZVowsrnGrnNk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=BgzkUvqxDOLmyQHFvIHQCw&ved=0CDMQ6AEwBTgK#v=onepage&q=charles%20shillard%20smith&f=false Google Books.]</ref> They had a daughter Christine who was born in 1910. The family was affluent and traveled the world.<ref>"Label Resource: Leser, Tina". Vintage Fashion Guild [http://vintagefashionguild.org/labels/12 website.]</ref> Active in mainline Philadelphia society, their names appeared in periodicals such as ''Town and Country'', the ''New York Times'', and in society columns of other newspapers. Her sister was Mrs. Yorke Stevenson, and like other Wetherills was prominent in society.<ref>''Town & Country'' 66.11 (May 27, 1922), 23.</ref> Georgine was a member of National Society of Magna Charta Dames and Barons, and of other civic and cultural groups. She and Charles lived in Florida in their later years. Mrs. Shillard-Smith died on October 12, 1955 in Pinellas, Florida, but was buried in Philadelphia. | ||
Christina became a fashion designer under the name Tina Leser, living in Hawaii with her husband Curtin Leser.<ref>"Label Resource: Leser, Tina". Vintage Fashion Guild [http://vintagefashionguild.org/labels/12 website.]</ref> | |||
== Involvement in the arts == | == Involvement in the arts == | ||
Georgine studied art with Cecilia Beaux. She was associated with the Philadelphia Museum and School of Industrial Art as a donor, on the Instruction Committee, and on the Board of Trustees.<ref>''Bulletin of the Philadelphia Museum'' January 1911.</ref> | Georgine studied art with Cecilia Beaux. She was associated with the Philadelphia Museum and School of Industrial Art for decades, as a donor, on the Instruction Committee, and on the Board of Trustees.<ref>''Bulletin of the Philadelphia Museum'' January 1911.</ref> A prize in illustration was established in her honor.<ref>"Notable Alumni", The University of the Arts [http://library.uarts.edu/archives/notablealumni.html web page.]</ref> She served as president of the Plastic Club, a group of women artists, during the years 1922-1926 and 1932-1936.<ref>Plastic Club Records, 1888-2007. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Collection 3106. Records in Appendix A at this [http://hsp.org/sites/default/files/legacy_files/migrated/findingaid3106plasticclub.pdf website]</ref> For many years she maintained her own art studio.<ref>U. S. Census, 1910.</ref> There is a Shillard-Smith Gallery in Belleair, Florida. | ||
In 1944, Mrs. Georgine Shillard-Smith donated seven acres of land to create the Florida Gulf Coast Art Center.<ref>"A Brief history of Belleair", available at [http://www.townofbelleair.com/index.aspx?nid=191 Belleair, Florida web page]</ref> "On Sunday, April 2, 1950, The Tampa Tribune announced the establishment of the Florida Gulf Coast Art Center in Belleair. The center began as a group of buildings consisting of modern studios, dormitories, galleries and lecture halls that were constructed on the property of its founder, Mrs. Shillard Smith."<ref>Mark Ormond. "Modern Art in Florida, 1948–1970". Available at this [http://www.markormond.com/modern_art_fl_essay.html website].</ref> | In 1944, Mrs. Georgine Shillard-Smith donated seven acres of land to create the Florida Gulf Coast Art Center.<ref>"A Brief history of Belleair", available at [http://www.townofbelleair.com/index.aspx?nid=191 Belleair, Florida web page]</ref> "On Sunday, April 2, 1950, The Tampa Tribune announced the establishment of the Florida Gulf Coast Art Center in Belleair. The center began as a group of buildings consisting of modern studios, dormitories, galleries and lecture halls that were constructed on the property of its founder, Mrs. Shillard Smith."<ref>Mark Ormond. "Modern Art in Florida, 1948–1970". Available at this [http://www.markormond.com/modern_art_fl_essay.html website].</ref> | ||
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== Theosophical Society activities == | == Theosophical Society activities == | ||
Mrs. Shillard-Smith became a member of the [[Theosophical Society in America]] in 19__. Charles was also involved; in 1920 the family were living in the Krotona colony in Los Angeles.<ref>U. S. Census, 1920.</ref> After leaving California, the family lived in Edgewater Park, Burlington, | Mrs. Shillard-Smith became a member of the [[Theosophical Society in America]] in 19__. Charles was also involved; in 1920 the family were living in the [[Krotona colony]] in Los Angeles.<ref>U. S. Census, 1920.</ref> After leaving California, the family lived in Edgewater Park, Burlington, New Jersey for some years, but visited the Society headquarters in Wheaton, Illinois. At the 1930 convention, she proposed a project to have Philadelphia artist [[Richard Blossom Farley]] paint a [[Olcott murals|mural]] on the walls of the lobby in the new [[L. W. Rogers Building]]. Later she donated a marble pedestal to hold a bust of [[Annie Besant]], and several acres of land adjoining the headquarters estate. The land was intended to provide space for an arts center, but funds were never available to put up the proposed building. In the 1950s, TSA President [[James S. Perkins]] used the land to create a pond. | ||
Revision as of 21:50, 25 January 2014
Georgine Northrup Wetherill Smith, later known as Georgine Shillard-Smith, was an American artist and arts patron, and a member of the Theosophical Society in America. She was responsible for commissioning the murals that were painted for the L. W. Rogers Building on the Society's headquarters campus. She also donated other art works and a large parcel of land.
Personal life
Georgine Northrup Wetherill was born on March 2, 1873 in Philadelphia.[1] On April 18, 1893 she married Charles Shillard Smith (September 10, 1864 - November 25, 1946) at a Unitarian Church. He was a wool merchant and a director of the United Security Life Insurance and Trust Co. of Pennsylvania[2] They had a daughter Christine who was born in 1910. The family was affluent and traveled the world.[3] Active in mainline Philadelphia society, their names appeared in periodicals such as Town and Country, the New York Times, and in society columns of other newspapers. Her sister was Mrs. Yorke Stevenson, and like other Wetherills was prominent in society.[4] Georgine was a member of National Society of Magna Charta Dames and Barons, and of other civic and cultural groups. She and Charles lived in Florida in their later years. Mrs. Shillard-Smith died on October 12, 1955 in Pinellas, Florida, but was buried in Philadelphia.
Christina became a fashion designer under the name Tina Leser, living in Hawaii with her husband Curtin Leser.[5]
Involvement in the arts
Georgine studied art with Cecilia Beaux. She was associated with the Philadelphia Museum and School of Industrial Art for decades, as a donor, on the Instruction Committee, and on the Board of Trustees.[6] A prize in illustration was established in her honor.[7] She served as president of the Plastic Club, a group of women artists, during the years 1922-1926 and 1932-1936.[8] For many years she maintained her own art studio.[9] There is a Shillard-Smith Gallery in Belleair, Florida.
In 1944, Mrs. Georgine Shillard-Smith donated seven acres of land to create the Florida Gulf Coast Art Center.[10] "On Sunday, April 2, 1950, The Tampa Tribune announced the establishment of the Florida Gulf Coast Art Center in Belleair. The center began as a group of buildings consisting of modern studios, dormitories, galleries and lecture halls that were constructed on the property of its founder, Mrs. Shillard Smith."[11]
Theosophical Society activities
Mrs. Shillard-Smith became a member of the Theosophical Society in America in 19__. Charles was also involved; in 1920 the family were living in the Krotona colony in Los Angeles.[12] After leaving California, the family lived in Edgewater Park, Burlington, New Jersey for some years, but visited the Society headquarters in Wheaton, Illinois. At the 1930 convention, she proposed a project to have Philadelphia artist Richard Blossom Farley paint a mural on the walls of the lobby in the new L. W. Rogers Building. Later she donated a marble pedestal to hold a bust of Annie Besant, and several acres of land adjoining the headquarters estate. The land was intended to provide space for an arts center, but funds were never available to put up the proposed building. In the 1950s, TSA President James S. Perkins used the land to create a pond.
Notes
- ↑ U. S. Passport application, October 5, 1893.
- ↑ Trust Companies of the United States, 1917 edition. Page 423. Available from Google Books.
- ↑ "Label Resource: Leser, Tina". Vintage Fashion Guild website.
- ↑ Town & Country 66.11 (May 27, 1922), 23.
- ↑ "Label Resource: Leser, Tina". Vintage Fashion Guild website.
- ↑ Bulletin of the Philadelphia Museum January 1911.
- ↑ "Notable Alumni", The University of the Arts web page.
- ↑ Plastic Club Records, 1888-2007. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Collection 3106. Records in Appendix A at this website
- ↑ U. S. Census, 1910.
- ↑ "A Brief history of Belleair", available at Belleair, Florida web page
- ↑ Mark Ormond. "Modern Art in Florida, 1948–1970". Available at this website.
- ↑ U. S. Census, 1920.