Sarah Finn, “A School for Professional Artists: Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1920-1974”
Description
My research paper will be on the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee which was founded in 1920 by Charlotte Partridge and her partner Miriam Frink, both of whom attended normal schools or teachers’ colleges. Charlotte Partridge attributed her progressive education from Emma M. Church’s Chicago School of Applied and Normal Art as being influential in her desire to establish her own art school which would focus on individual creativity but also teach students skills that could be used in industry. The history of the Layton School of Art will explore the interplay between progressive ideals, gender, and art in higher education.
Biography
My name is Sarah Finn and I am a recent MLIS graduate with an Archives Concentration here at UW-Milwaukee. I have 12 years of library experience, working in both public and academic libraries. I am passionate about providing access to historical materials to the broader public. I am currently enrolled in the UWM History MA program and my research focuses are: the history of books and printing, the history of science, and the history of American social justice movements.
This was really very impressive, Sarah! The connection between art/industry/aesthetics/and the history of Milwaukee in the 1920s and 30s was fascinating. I kept seeing sort of a local echo of larger WPA aesthetics and that made me wonder about the relationship between the school and its instructors and national practices. In any case, thank you for bringing this wonderful story forward! Am I wrong, or is there a sort of revival in lettering and design in contemporary work for Colectivo and others?