American society of painters in watercolor

Founded in 1866, it resulted from active interest in a medium traditionally used only for sketching rather than finished paintings. In 1873, the ASPW had a highly successful exhibition in New York City at the National Academy of Design. Nearly 600 American and European watercolors were entered. In 1878, the name changed to the American Watercolor Society. Source: The University of Mississippi, www.olemiss.edu/depts/u_museum/water_color_society_web/awcs2.html