Muncie Art Students' League records

The Muncie Art Students’ League was the idea of a local kindergarten teacher, Carolyn McCulloch Brady. Mrs. Brady was one of several students who had studied art under the instruction of J. Otis Adams. Adams was born in Johnson County and studied at the Royal Academy in Munich before coming to Muncie in 1887 and opening an art studio. In June 1888, Adams held a reception to exhibit the work of his first class of students. The idea of a yearly exhibit caught on. In 1892, building on the enthusiasm engendered by the art classes, Mrs. Brady and Mrs. William Oves, along with eleven other prominent Muncie women, met in Mrs. Brady's kindergarten room in the local high school to write a constitution and formalize the establishment of the organization, which they called the Muncie Art Students’ League. Forty-three women attended the first meeting and elected Mrs. Brady as the organization's first president. The object of the League, according to its constitution, was "the study of the various branches of art; the bringing together of various art interests of the community, in order to promote a spirit of art interest and appreciation."

For some time the organization maintained a studio at the corner of Main and Elm Street under the supervision of Mr. Adams, where an evening sketch class was offered. Lecturers were employed to deliver addresses on the history of art, with an annual exhibit as part of the League’s mission.

In 1906, realizing that the yearly expositions were beyond the managerial capabilities of the League, the organization directed its efforts towards the establishment of the Muncie Art Association, of which Edmund, George and Frank Ball were all directors and active participants.

In 1909, the Muncie Art Students’ League established the Civic Improvement Committee taking an interest in suggesting ways to improve the community, such as planting trees along railways and planting flowers along riverbanks. Throughout its long history the Muncie Art Students’ League has continued to support its original intent, "to promote a spirit of art interest and appreciation."