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Albert M. Bender Grants-In-Aid Program
SFAI.010
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Title: Albert M. Bender Grants-In-Aid Program
Dates: 1941-1953
Collection Number: SFAI.010
Creator/Collector:
San Francisco Art Association
Extent: 7 boxes of paper documents
Repository:
San Francisco Art Institute Library
San Francisco, California 94105
Abstract: The Albert M. Bender Grants-In-Aid were grants awarded to Bay Area residents who wanted to complete projects in art, literature,
and photography. The yearly contest was administered by the San Francisco Art Association from 1942 to 1953. The trust was
first formed in 1941 after Bender’s death and the first grants were awarded in 1942.
Albert M. Bender (1866-1941) was born in Dublin, Ireland, but moved to the United States as a teenager. As an adult, he supported
the arts in the San Francisco Bay Area through the patronage of Bay Area artists like Ansel Adams. He also helped support
universities like Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and Mills College, as well as organizations
like the San Francisco Public Library, the San Francisco Museum of Art (later the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art), and
the California School of Fine Arts (later the San Francisco Art Institute).
Language of Material: English
The collection is open for research use.
Much of the material in this collection is under copyright protection. Contact the San Francisco Art Institute Library for
questions or requests regarding use of these materials.
[Identification of item]. Albert M. Bender Grants-In-Aid Program. Collection Number: SFAI.010. San Francisco Art Institute
Library
Biography/Administrative History
The San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) is a private fine arts college which dates back to 1874 when the San Francisco Art
Association, an organization founded in 1871 to promote and exhibit local artists, first began offering art classes to the
public. The school was known as the California School of Design from 1874 through 1916, and the California School of Fine
Arts from 1916 through 1961, when it became the San Francisco Art Institute.
Scope and Content of Collection
Collection of paper materials from 1941 to 1953 covering the creation and administration of the Albert M. Bender Grants-In-Aid
Program. Materials include letters, memos, bills, contest applications, reference letters, and blank sample applications.
The contest was affiliated with the San Francisco Art Association and operated out of the San Francisco Bay Area. It was only
open to applicants residing in the Bay Area for at least two years. Awards were given in literature, art, and photography.
From 1942-1947 the contest for each year took place completely within the first year listed (i.e. 1942-1943 took place entirely
within 1942). There was no contest in 1948, but the same labeling convention for the year was kept for 1948-1952 (i.e. the
contest for 1948-1949 actually took place entirely within 1949). The entire file for the 1946-1947 Art grant applications
is missing. Names of applicants were sourced from a list available in the 1946-1947 Miscellaneous file. Many files have large
amounts of water damage and mold throughout. The pages of the 1952 Photography file are severely water-damaged and mostly
inseparable. Names of applicants were taken from the first page of the file, which was still legible. There are also several
missing single applications within other files.
Arrangement: Material arranged chronologically by year. Within each year material is divided by subject into Miscellaneous,
Literature Applications, Art Applications, and Photography Applications (when applicable). Material within Miscellaneous folders
arranged chronologically.
Art—Competitions
Art, American—20th Century
Art and literature
Grants-In-Aid
Literature—Competitions
Literature, Modern—20th century
Photography—Competitions
Poetry—Competitions
Poetry, Modern—20th Century
Bender, Albert M. (Albert Maurice) 1866-1941
San Francisco Art Association
San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco Bay Area (Calif.)