Program Announcement III

Masonic tracing board painted by Archibald Willard in the late nineteenth century, entitled “Quarrying the Stone.” Held in the collection of the Southern Lorain County Historical Society, “The Spirit of ’76” Museum. Photo by author.

“To Devise Artistic Designs” | Archibald Willard and His Masonic Masterworks
Wellington Town Hall
Sunday, May 14th, 2-4PM

Archibald Willard is best known for his iconic painting, “The Spirit of ’76.” A prolific artist, Willard left behind an extensive body of work, including murals, portraits, comedic scenes and even decorated furniture. But when Wellington Masonic Lodge #127 discovered the existence of three enormous Masonic tracing boards signed by the artist, it began an historical investigation that shed light on a little known part of Willard’s life–his decades of membership in, and artistic contributions to, the Freemasons of Ohio. As Wellington prepares to celebrate 2018 as both the village’s Bicentennial and also the centennial of Archibald Willard’s death, please join us to learn more about this fascinating man and the spectacular artistic legacy he entrusted to our care.

All three panels will be on display during the event, and paintings conservator Heather Galloway will be on hand to address technical queries about the objects. The talk will begin ca. 3PM and be followed by a question and answer session.

About the speaker:

Nicole M. Hayes is an independent researcher who has lived in Wellington, Ohio since 2005. A native of Massachusetts, Nicole holds a master’s degree in American history from the College of William & Mary in Virginia. She has worked at cultural institutions including the National Museum of Ireland, Plimoth Plantation, Colonial Williamsburg, and Harvard University. Her blog “Nineteenth-Century Wellington” has had more than 40,000 visits from around the world since 2013.

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