IIepobt of Board of Women Managees. 179 



the eight meetings held by Mrs. Wheeler the different lines of work 

 were discussed, and the following committees formed : Committee on 

 applied and decorative painting ; committee on stained glass and glass 

 mosaics ; committee on modeling and plaster ornament ; committee on 

 woodcarving, picture frames, etc. ; committee on ornamental leather, 

 wall paper, etc. ; committee on modern textiles and tapestries ; com- 

 mittee on modern embroideries ; committee on modern ecclesiastical 

 embroideries ; committee on designs for gold and silver work, gems, 

 etc. ; committee on art manufactures in iron, brass, etc. ; committee 

 on pottery, porcelains, etc. ; committee on book binding, book covers, 

 etc. ; committee on modern handmade lace. 



It was hoped that these committees would completely cover the 

 work of women in the applied arts, and that the workers themselves 

 would quickly respond to the circulars and other appeals sent all over 

 the State, begging their interest in the exhibit. In September, 1892, 

 Mrs, Wheeler found that if the exhibit was to be a credit, the choice 

 specimens of work must be requested, perhaps personally sought after, 

 treated as a loan, and the expenses of insurance and transportation paid 

 by the board. The workers themselves found it impossible to send 

 their contributions at their own risk and cost. Efforts made on these 

 lines were productive of success although much hard work was entailed. 

 Naturally the first general appeal brought to the bureau from the 

 country districts, and even from 'New York, occasional articles which 

 were of no artistic merit and others that were well enough for a local 

 exhibition, but were not of sufficient importance to place in a collec- 

 tion for a great exposition. It was of course impossible to accept or 

 reject proposed exhibits without having them placed before expert 

 committees. Partly for the purpose of gathering together the articles 

 in one place, so that they could be properly passed upon, and also in 

 order to work up a stronger interest by giving local color to the plan 

 for the exposition, the chairmen of the various committees met and 

 decided to hold a preliminary exhibition in New York city. It was 

 enthusiastically suggested that if the exhibition should prove success- 

 ful it might result in the establishment of a regular exhibition and 

 assist in the founding of a permanent bureau of applied arts. The 

 "preliminary" was so planned that it very nearly paid its own expenses, 

 being placed in the hands of the American Art Association, 6 East 

 Twenty-third street, and, as above stated, it made it possible for the 

 expert committees to inspect the articles with ease and make suitable 

 selections for the exposition. The preliminary exhibition took place 

 early in March. At its close 458 articles were chosen for Chicago, and 

 were packed and forwarded in charge of Mrs. Wheeler. It was an 

 important exhibit as showing the varied handicrafts of women. It was 

 strong in certain lines, some of which were new departures in the field 

 of women's work. The collection was shown in glass cases of such 

 shape and dimensions as exhibited the articles to advantage. The 

 greater part of it was assigned space in the northeast corner and on the 

 ground floor of the Women's Building, but the space not being sufficient, 

 flie wall papers and book cover designs, etc., were displayed respectively 

 in the educational department and the gallej*y. The work of the Asso- 



