Illinois Art Education Association Records, 1931-2010 | Northern Illinois University

The present association is an outgrowth of the High School Conference held in Illinois.  The art section of the High School Conference held its first meeting at the University of Illinois on November 24, 1933.  The group which participated in these conferences officially became known as the Illinois Art Education Association in 1935 and held yearly meetings in connection with the High School Conferences in 1942.    

Since 1948 the Illinois Art Education has held yearly conferences in various parts of the state.  A constitution was presented at the meeting of this group in Springfield with an attendance of 130 people.  The first officers were Dr. Mildred Whiting, President; Harold Schultz, First Vice President; Mary McCulian, Second Vice President; Ruth Blankmeyer, Treasurer; and Mabel Williams, Secretary.  The second meeting in Peoria had 191 members.   

The Illinois Art Education Association allowed art teachers to network, to seek emotional and intellectual support, and to share ideas with one another.  Above all, there was a need for Illinois art teachers to gain recognition as a profession.  Up to this time, curricula and methods were often dictated by administrators.    

[History copied from the 1998 conference program (Box  6, Folder 10), and “The Beginnings” script, June 1997 (Box 16, Folder 20).]