North British Academy of Arts

The North British Academy of Arts (1908–1924) was an art institution of Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England.

Overview

The Academy, later known as the North British Academy of Arts, Science, Literature, and Music, was located in the Claremount Buildings on the western side of Barras Bridge on the corner with Eldon Place in Newcastle upon Tyne, which is now opposite the County Council Offices. Its objectives were initially "for the advancement of art, the encouragement and advantages of its associates and members, and for the creation of local art patriotism and enthusiasm amongst cultured and influential classes of North Britain." They soon evolved to encompass "the betterment of humanity by the advancement of art, literature, science, music, education, law, medicine, manufactures, commerce, agriculture, industries, and, engineering, to the end that the sum of human knowledge may be increased", with the Society organized into ten sections, each presided over by a distinguished specialist. It was founded in 1908, incorporated in 1913, and dissolved in 1924. William James Morgan (1850-1923) was the secretary throughout the life of the Academy. At various times, Henry John Brinsley Manners (1852-1925), the 8th Duke of Rutland, was its president.''The Official Year-Book of the Scientific and Learned Societies of Great Britain and Ireland'', Charles Griffin & Co. Ltd., London 1910-1924.
Note: The entry for 1924 includes the annotation " o Return., and there is no entry for 1925.The ''London Gazette'' of 4 March 1924 1973aadvised that the North British Academy of Arts was voluntarily "wound up" on 5 February 1924 at an Extraordinary General Meeting of its shareholders held at 28 Bedford Row, London. Arthur Willey, accountant, of 50 North Parade, Whitley in Northamptonshire was appointed liquidator. A subsequent Extraordinary General Meeting of its shareholders confirmed these resolutions on 22 February 1924. Maisie Strobel was annotated as secretary of the Society. Early on the membership secretary was Frederick Huntley (1887-1960), and curator was William J. Macgarree.

The "Entrance Fee" was two guineas, the "Annual Subscription", one guinea, and "Life Composition", twelve guineas. Annual Meetings were held in September, and exhibitions of members' works normally held twice a year. Members were described as fellows of the academy, and entitled to append F.N.B.A. after their names.

Exhibitions

Eight exhibitions were held by the academy before the Great War.''Catalogue of the National Art Library''
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Works known to have been displayed at these exhibitions include:

* ''Sounding a Rally'' - A portrait study of Miss Stanley "Bimbie" Edwards, the first English girl scout, by Philip Homan Miller, which was exhibited in the London exhibition of 1910.''The Outlook'', 26 November 1910, Page 721.
* ''A Garden in Sark'' - A watercolour painting by Frances Anne Hopkins, which was exhibited in the York exhibition of 1910."A Garden in Sark" by Frances Anne Hopkins. There is a North British Academy York Exhibition 1910 label on the reverse side of this watercolor painting.

Members

Notable men and women were invited to become members, including:

* A. Bailey (l. 1910) - Australian MLA.
* Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner (b.1854 d.1925) - British statesman, colonial administrator and High Commissioner in South Africa.''Local and General News''
in ''New Zealand Herald'', 29 September 1910, page 4h.
* Arthur Balfour (b. 1848 d. 1930) - British Conservative Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary.
* Charles Francis Brush (b. 1849 d. 1929) - American pioneer in the commercial development of electricity.
* Chow Cheong Ling (b. 1861 d. 1959) - Chinese: 周长龄; pinyin: Zhou Chang Ling; also Chow Shouson - Chinese diplomat, district customs officer, company & charity director, merchant & Member of the Legislative Council (Hong Kong).
* Edward Enoch Anderson (b. 1878 d. 1961) - Yorkshire artist of the Staithes group elected to honorary membership in 1909 and later became vice-president.
* Ernest Christie (b. 1863 d. 1937) - Surrey painter.
* Frances Anne Hopkins (b. 1838 d. 1919) - Canadian and British painter who exhibited at the York Exhibition of 1910.
* Francis Henry Lenygon (b. 1877 d. 1943) - Decorator and furnisher in London and New York NY.
* Frederick Barnett Kilmer (b. 1851 d. 1934) - Pharmacist, author, public health activist and director of Scientific Laboratories for Johnson & Johnson 1889–1934.
* Frederick Huntley (b. 1887 d. 1960) - Membership secretary for the society.
* Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts (b. 1832 d. 1914) - British soldier and field marshal.
* Georgina Bainsmith (b. 1858 d. 1937) - Cornish sculptor, also elected a fellow and councilor.
* Henry Robinson Hall (b. 1859 d. 1927) - Lancastrian, Yorkshire and Northumbrian painter, from 1910.
* James William Lowber (b. 1847 d. 1930) - Anthropologist of Austin Texas, also elected a fellow and councilor in 1910.
* Jeme Tien Yow (b. 1861 d. 1919) - Chinese: 詹天佑; pinyin: Zhan Tain You; also Jeme Tien Yau - Chinese naval officer, railway engineer & mandarin elected member in 1909.
* Joseph Baynes (b. 1842 d. 1925) - Pioneer of the dairy industry and MLC of Natal, South Africa.
* Lillian Heatley (b. 1880 d. 1942) - Wife of painter Harold SwanwickLillian Heatley - Membership Certificate dated 29 December 1909
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* Maisie Strobel (l. 1924) - Succeeded as secretary after the death of William James Morgan, and oversaw the winding up of the Society.
* Nestor Cambier (b. 1879 d. 1957) - Belgium painter and draftsman, from 1923.
* Philip Homan Miller (b. 1845 d. 1928) - Irish artist who exhibited in the 1910 exhibition.
* Ralph Adams Cram (b. 1863 d. 1942) - American architect of collegiate and ecclesiastical buildings.
* Robert Lorimer (b. 1864 d. 1929) - Scottish architect.
* Jehangir Hormusji Kothari (b. 1857 d. 1934) - Urdu