Claremont Arts Fair Scrapbook
Finding aid created by Claremont Heritage staff using RecordEXPRESS
Claremont Heritage
2019
840 N. Indian Hill Blvd.
Claremont, California 91711
(909) 621-0848
info@ClaremontHeritage.org
http://www.claremontheritage.org/
Title: Claremont Arts Fair Scrapbook
Dates: 1958 - 1960
Collection Number: 20180.01T
Creator/Collector:
Extent: .21 linear feet (1box) linear feet. Containing brochures, newspapers, photographs, newspaper articles and clippings, and administrative
materials.
Repository:
Claremont Heritage
Claremont, California 91711
Abstract: A scrapbook collection of items including brochures, newspaper article clippings, photographs, and administrative materials
focusing on the annual Claremont Arts Fair. These materials document the events and artists of the 1958, 1959, and 1960 art
fairs. Many notable Claremont artists took place in the festivities, either as panel judges or through exhibition of their
work including Karl Benjamin, Harrison McIntosh, and Milford Zornes.
Language of Material: English
The collection is open for research use.
Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder (if applicable).
Claremont Arts Fair Scrapbook. Claremont Heritage
Biography/Administrative History
Since the 1930’s, the City of Claremont and Claremont Colleges have been a haven for artists. The transition into art community
was due in large part to Millard Sheets, a Pomona native and artist who studied at the Choinard Art Institute in Los Angeles.
Returning to Claremont in the 1930s, Sheets joined the faculty at Scripps College in 1936, where he served as Director of
Painting until 1955. During his time at Scripps, Sheets was able to bring in several notable artists as professors to the
budding Claremont Colleges art program. Artists like Jean Goodwin Ames, Phil Dike, William Manker, Henry Lee McFee, Albert
Stewart, and Milford Zornes all served on the faculty during this period, teaching primarily painting and ceramics at Scripps
College and the Claremont Graduate School. In addition to the art faculty, public art pieces and murals across the campuses
by artists like Ramon Martinez and Jose Clemente Orozco offered inspiration to a new generation of Claremont artists. The
Padua Hills Theatre, built in 1930 in the Claremont foothills also encouraged a growing art movement in Claremont. The theatre
itself served as home to the Mexican Players performance troupe from 1932 to 1974, drawing audiences to Claremont from around
Southern California. In addition to the dining room and theatre, Padua Hills also hosted an art colony where ceramic artists
like Harrison McIntosh, Rupert Deese, and Betty Davenport Ford had studios and workshops. Each summer the Padua Hills Art
Fiesta brought together local artists for a celebration of art in action. Padua Hills thrived as an artist’s colony and the
presence of such a community, coupled with the artistic influence of the Claremont Colleges, created an art mecca in Claremont.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Claremont Arts Fair was an annual festival that showcased local artwork that highlighted Claremont artists. The Claremont
Arts Fair Scrapbook Collection features materials collected that highlight the first three annual Claremont Arts Fairs. The
collection is primarily made up of newspaper and article clippings that focus on the events held during the weekend, artists
who were involved with the exhibitions and programming, and profile and exposé pieces on the prize-winning artists. Among
the well-known artists featured in the clippings are Karl Benjamin, Phil Dike, Millard Sheets, Harrison McIntosh, and Milford
Zornes. In addition to the articles, the scrapbook collection also features photographs of the art exhibits (primarily in
the Claremont Village area), brochures for each three Arts Fair, and administrative documents: letterhead, announcements,
and art entry forms. The scope of the collection covers the Claremont Arts Fair from 1958 – 1960. The Claremont Arts Fair
continued to run as an annual event throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Artist -- United States
Claremont (Calif.)
Claremont Colleges
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont High School
Pomona College (Claremont, Calif.)
Scripps College (Claremont, Calif.)
Women -- Societies and Clubs
Authur Ames
Jean Ames
Benjamin Karl
Rex Brandt
Theodore Criley
Paul Darrow
Phil Dike
Robert George
James Grant
Frederick Hammersley
James Hueter
John Hunter
Roger Kuntz
Anthony Ivins
Sue Lautman
Douglas McClelland
Fred McDowell
Harrison McIntosh
Walter Mix
Lindley Mixon
David Scott
Millard Sheets
Paul Soldner
Sueo Serisawa
James Strombotne
Helen Watson
Melvin Wood
Robert E. Wood
R.D. Wright
Jack Zajac
Milford Zornes