1700s
1786
Peale's Museum is founded in Philadelphia by Charles Willson Peale
1794
The Columbianum, a loosely organized association of artists, is founded in Philadelphia by Charles Willson Peale
1795
The Columbianum holds the first exhibition of art in America and fails in the same year
1800s
1805
Summer and fall meetings in private homes result in the creation of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and election of a board with George Clymer, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, elected as the first President; artists C. W. Peale, Rembrandt Peale and William Rush are among the group of 71 men signing the formal charter on December 26 at Independence Hall
Charles Willson Peale writes to President Jefferson of his hopes to establish "an Academy for the encouragement of the fine arts"
Benjamin West is elected the first honorary member; building committee members William Rush, William Poyntell and John Dorsey select the lot on north side of Chestnut Street between Tenth and Eleventh Streets
1806
The charter is ratified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The building, designed by John Dorsey, opens in April; a collection of plaster casts of antique sculpture is purchased in Paris by the Academy's agent, Nicholas Biddle, and becomes the core of the first exhibition
1807
A regular schedule of open days is established; the first catalogue of the collection is issued; a 25-cent-admission charge is implemented; Mondays are set aside exclusively for ladies
The first exhibition is held, including paintings lent by Robert Fulton
The first plans are made for establishing regular classes
1810
The first mention of an agreement with Society of Artists for use of the Academy rooms as a school
The North gallery is added to the building, to expand exhibition space
1811
The First Annual Exhibition takes place, in a series that runs until 1969
William Bingham gives Gilbert Stuart's George Washington (The Lansdowne Portrait); Napoleon Bonaparte gives 24 books of Piranesi etchings
1812
The Board resolves to establish a Life Academy with a professorship of anatomy; The Pennsylvania Academicians, an advisory body of artists, is formed to assist the Academy
The first purchase of a work of art, Portrait of Governor Clinton by Ezra Ames, for $80
1813
Paintings sent from Europe by Joseph Allen Smith and seized as war prize by Britain are released to the Academy; a world-wide legal precedent is set, favoring free trade in works of art during times of war
1816
The first purchase of a major painting, Washington Allston's The Dead Man Restored to Life by Touching the Bones of the Prophet Elisha, is accomplished by mortgaging the building
1820-23
The statue gallery and library are added to building
1822
Consideration begins for a professorship of historical and landscape painting
1824
The Marquis de Lafayette is elected as an honorary member; he visits the Academy and expressed "great satisfaction"
1831
The first medal for merit at exhibitions is given to Joshua Shaw for Sunset
1834
Financial problems endanger the Academy's existence
1836
Benjamin West's Death on the Pale Horse is purchased; it is resolved to erect two buildings along Chestnut Street in front of the Academy, for revenue
1839
New frontage buildings are leased to the Artists Fund Society
1844
An excellent financial report emerges; debts are reduced; the building is renovated; exhibitions are successful
1845
Financial balance is in hand for the year; plans develop for greater picture-buying; the antique cast gallery is set on fire, causing great damage to the building; the cast collection is destroyed; The Ladies Committee raises $10,000 with a Bazaar and Ball
1847
A new and larger building, designed by Richard A. Gilpin on the surviving foundation, is opened, with improved schoolrooms and new casts
1848
Hiram Powers's The Greek Slave is exhibited to great public notoriety
1851
Exhibition of Thomas Cole's five monumental paintings titled The Course of Empire; the First Annual Report is issued
1855
The Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration of the Academy was decidedly reserved. To celebrate, the original articles of agreement are displayed in the galleries for the year. The Annual Stockholders Meeting featured special remarks
1856
The fiftieth anniversary is celebrated with six founders present; the school's organization is improved under John Sartain's direction; Ladies Day in the galleries is abolished, and fig leaves are ordered for the casts
1857
The Academy supported Dr. W. H. Furness, father of architect Frank Furness, in a request for admission of "all decent and respectable colored persons and upon same terms with decent and respectable white persons"; the Academy invites schoolchildren and other groups to visit; twelve thousand visitors come to the galleries
1858
The American Exhibition of British Art at the Academy introduces work by the Pre-Raphaelites to America
1860
Exhibition of Frederick Edwin Church's Heart of the Andes
1862
A total of 62 students are registered
1866
The building is in need of repair; a new location is considered
1867-72
Yearly subscription of $1,000 is raised to assist retired faculty member Thomas Sully
1868
Christian Schussele is engaged as Professor of Art at $1,000 per year
1869
A separate life class for ladies is established
1870
The Chestnut Street building is sold; property is bought at Broad and Cherry Streets; school classes are moved to Soldiers' Home at 16th Street below Filbert and later to Schussele's home; exhibitions are suspended
1871
Frank Furness and George Hewitt are appointed as architects for the new building
1872
The cornerstone is laid for the new building
1876
The Furness-Hewitt building openes just prior to the United States Centennial celebration; Thomas Eakins begins teaching a life class; the John S. Phillips bequest of European prints and drawings is received
1878
First endowment of funds for art acquisition from the Henry D. Gilpin estate
Donation of Joseph and Sarah Harrison collection of paintings, including C. W. Peale's The Artist in His Museum and West's Christ Rejected and Penn's Treaty with the Indians
First school catalogue is issued
1879
The Mary Smith Prize, for a Philadelphia woman painter in the Annual Exhibition, is established
The Edward L. Carey collection of American art is received
1880
The Joseph E. Temple Fund for the purchase of art, and award of a gold medal in the Annual Exhibitions, is established; The Germania Orchestra concerts commence and are attended by large audiences for the next two decades
1881
American Artists at Home and in Europe, a major exhibition of paintings by American expatriates, brings J. M. Whistler's Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Artist's Mother to the Academy
A portrait class is established; Thomas Anshutz joins the faculty
The Charles Toppan Prize, the first School prize, is established
1882
The first record of student tuition; Thomas Eakins becomes Director of the School
1884
An exhibition of Whistler etchings in the gallery is decorated to the artist's specifications
1886
Eakins resigns after a disagreement with the Board over the use of nude models; a fire in galleries destroys 50 paintings; an endowment for general operations is established
1 887
The Academy entertains President Cleveland, ex-President Hayes, the Secretaries of State and the Treasury, the Chief Justice and five Justices of the Supreme Court, fifteen Governors and numerous dignitaries at ceremonies commemorating the signing of the Constitution
1891
Receipt of the largest bequest to date: the Henry C. Gibson collection of European paintings and American sculpture
1892
The first major display of American impressionist works at the 62nd Annual Exhibition; Robert Henri, John Sloan, William Glackens and Maxfield Parrish attend the Academy; Harrison S. Morris is appointed Managing Director, serving until 1905
1893
Charles Grafly joins the faculty; a group of American paintings, scheduled for display at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, appears at the Academy; the first Academy Gold Medal for achievement in art is awarded to Daniel Ridgway Knight
1894
Winslow Homer's Fox Hunt is purchased; an exhibition of architectural drawings is the first of a series that continues through 1913
1896
Cecilia Beaux and William Merritt Chase begin teaching at the Academy
1897
The Fellowship, the Academy's alumni organization, is founded; Thomas Eakins's The Cello Player is purchased; Academy students, including John Sloan and Edward Glackens, paint a mural cycle for the auditorium walls
1898
Architect Frank Miles Day is engaged to plan for the expansion of the building and conversion of studios to galleries
1898-1901
Important early photographic exhibitions, the Philadelphia Photographic Salons, are held
1900s
1900
An Illustration course is established; it is discontinued in 1958
1902
The Cresson Travel Scholarship is first awarded
1903
An Architectural Design course is established; it is discontinued in 1908
1904
The First Annual Exhibition of Watercolors, Prints and Drawings is held in collaboration with the Philadelphia Watercolor Club
1905
The 100th Anniversary celebration includes a major exhibition of American artists and an elaborate banquet. A special railroad car is chartered to bring guests to the celebration from New York City. Attendees included twenty-one descendants of the founders, well-known graduates, and (according to The New York Times) the greatest gathering of artists ever seen in America.
1908
An exhibition of The Eight introduces these painters of contemporary urban subjects to Philadelphia
1917-18
Opening of the Academy's summer campus at Chester Springs, Pennsylvania; The Thomas Eakins Memorial Exhibition is held
1920
Paintings and Drawings by Representative Modern Masters shows works of European avant-garde artists; it is organized by Arthur B. Carles and Carroll Tyson
1921
Paintings and Drawings Showing the Later Tendencies in Art becomes the first museum exhibition of work by American modernists; it is organized by Alfred Stieglitz, Arthur B. Carles, Joseph Stella and Thomas Hart Benton
1922
Exhibition of portraits by Thomas Sully
1923
Contemporary European Paintings and Sculpture displays recent additions to the collection of Albert C. Barnes; Portraits by Charles Willson Peale, James Peale and Rembrandt Peale are shown during the exhibition of the Barnes collection
1928-33
The Chester Springs program holds winter school sessions
1929
The cooperative program with the University of Pennsylvania is established
1938
Joseph Pennell's Lithographs of the Panama Canal are exhibited; The Ware Travel Scholarship is established
1940
Paintings by Arthur B. Carles are exhibited
1945
Star Presentation exhibits Academy masterpieces after their return from wartime storage
1948
The Schiedt Travel Scholarship established
1950
The Contemporary British Painting exhibition
1952
The Chester Springs campus closes
1955
The Academy's 150th Anniversary becomes a national and international celebration. The year begins with the 150th Anniversary Exhibition, which exhibited more than 300 works of art by 25 of America's foremost artists who had ties to the Academy. With funding from the U.S. Department of Information, the exhibition represents our nation on an international tour to six European cities, where it is lauded by critics at every venue.
1964
The Academy School gains a second facility in the Peale House, the former Belgravia Hotel, on Chestnut Street; the Graphics (Printmaking) major is established
1965
Peale Club (dining club) opens next to the Peale House
1966
The Andrew Wyeth exhibition is attended by 173,000 visitors
1969
The 164th Annual Exhibition closes this series, which had begun in 1811; The Museum Shop is established; the vault renovation commences
The Jacob Eichholtz exhibition, with a catalogue by Edgar P. Richardson, marks a new era of scholarly exhibitions and publications; ten paintings by Eichholtz are presented to the Academy by Mrs. James H. Beal
1970
President and Mrs. Nixon attend opening of exhibition To Save a Heritage; Mrs. Nixon unveils restored paintings; a souvenir portfolio of historical documents is presented to guests
1971
The conservation laboratory opens; funds are provided by Mrs. T. Carrick Jordan, Bertram O'Neil and Henry S. McNeil; a cooperative program with Philadelphia College of Art (University of the Arts) founded; the Furness-Hewitt building is placed on the National Register of Historic Places
1972
Frank H. Goodyear, Jr., becomes the Academy's first professional curator; a conference of distinguished consultants considers the future of the Academy; the docent program begins
1974
The Furness-Hewitt building is closed for a two-year restoration
1975
The building is awarded National Landmark status
1976
The restored building is reopened for the celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial
1978
The Morris Gallery program is inaugurated to exhibit contemporary regional art
1980
The 175th Anniversary is celebrated with a block party on Broad Street. In early June, Broad Street is closed from noon to 5:00 p.m., and the celebration begins with the reading of a City proclamation. The 15,000 people who assemble at City Hall then parade down Broad Street to the Academy. The event features screenings of the film Forever Furness, a fashion show of dresses from 1870 to 1910 and free tours of the collection, as well as music, clowns and jugglers
1981
The exhibition of Contemporary American Realism Since 1960 travels to three European venues
198
Antiques Magazine devotes the March issue to the Academy; the school moves into Peale House II, the former Oliver Bair building, on Chestnut Street
1984
Philip Pearlstein marks the 500th special exhibition held since 1807
1985
The Red Grooms exhibition brings 90,000 visitors to the Academy and then travels to three American venues; Charles Bregler's Thomas Eakins collection is purchased; endowment for acquisitions, established by the heirs of Board President Henry S. McNeil, provides funds for the purchase of the Academy's first painting by John Singleton Copley
1988
The school moves into a new building at 1301 Cherry Street
1989
The Checklist of American Paintings and Writing About Eakins: The Manuscripts in Charles Bregler's Thomas Eakins Collection are published
1990
The three-volume Index to the Annual Exhibitions is published; the Thomas Eakins Rediscovered exhibition displays artwork, photographs and manuscripts from Charles Bregler's collection; the Museum Director's position is endowed by Edna S. Tuttleman
1992
The Master of Fine Arts program is inaugurated
1994
The I Tell My Heart: The Art of Horace Pippin exhibition travels to four American venues; the building is closed for six months of renovations; Eakins and the Photograph is published, and an exhibition of Eakins photographs is mounted
1995
Forty works by Robert Motherwell are acquired; To Be Modern: American Encounters with Cézanne and Company exhibits art of American modernists; museum attendance increases significantly; an Academy website is established
1997
The Fellowship, the Academy's first alumni association, celebrates its 100th anniversary
The Catalogue of American Sculpture is published
1999
The Maxfield Parrish exhibition brings 83,000 visitors to the galleries
2000s
2000
The Federal building is purchased, allowing the Academy to move the School into near proximity to the Museum
2002
The American Sublime exhibition, organized by Tate Britain in London, brings nearly 50,000 visitors; the Academy is the only East Coast venue
2005
The Academy celebrates its 200th anniversary with a variety of events, including the grand opening of the new Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building; PAFA receives the National Medal for the Arts, becoming the only art institution to have won the award; the National Medal of Arts is presented by the President of the United States
2006
The School of Fine Arts relocates to the Samuel M. V. Hamilton Building
2007
PAFA purchases Thomas Eakins’s masterpiece The Gross Clinic jointly with the Philadelphia Museum of Art; Daniel Garber: Romantic Realist is the first major retrospective of Garber's work since 1945 at the Academy
2008
PAFA inaugurates the BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) degree