11. The Society of Illustrators contributed to both World Wars
Founded on February 1st, 1901, the Society of Illustrators was founded “to promote generally the art of illustration and to hold exhibitions from time to time.” The Society was founded by nine artists, including Frank Vincent DuMond and Otto Henry Bacher. Members of the Society worked with the Committee on Public Information’s Division of Pictorial Publicity, and eight members were sent to France to photograph World War I. The Society also created dozens of posters to boost morale during World War II.
The Society, located on East 63th Street, acts as a gathering place for industry folks and fans, celebrating contemporary illustration through gallery and award shows. The Society also has a bar and dining room upstairs, complete with an original Norman Rockwell mural. The Society’s collection boasts 1,800 original works, including those of N.C. Wyeth and Maxfield Parish.
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