Carolina art association

Formed in 1857 by Charleston, South Carolina business and professional persons with the purpose of promoting fine arts in the state. The first exhibition was April, 1858, with 176 borrowed works from private collections. Through membership dues and special events, Association members raised enough money to buy works of art for a collection that, thanks to an initial endowment of $100,000 by James Gibbes, Sr., led to the founding of the Gibbes Museum of Art. The opening was April, 1905, and that same year, women, for the first time, were allowed into Association membership. Active female exhibiting artists included Elizabeth Verner, Alice Smith and Leila Waring. Alfred Hutty was a prestigious teacher and was sponsored by the Association for classes at the Museum. Source: http://www.carolinaarts.com/905carolinaaa.html