We are thrilled to announce the completion of a major digitization project within the PAFA Archives: The Chester Springs Student Registration Cards. (https://pafaarchives.org/s/digital/page/chester-springs) For decades, these cards have been the primary—and often the only—proof of a student’s time spent at PAFA’s historic summer campus. Now, for the first time, this entire collection is available online, offering a searchable window into the lives of over 2,300 artists who studied in the rolling hills of Chester County.
A Legacy of “Open-Air” Art
In 1917, PAFA embraced the Impressionist-led “plein air” movement by opening the Academy Country School (popularly known as Chester Springs). Located about six miles from Phoenixville on a site steeped in history—from a pre-Revolutionary medicinal spa to a Revolutionary War hospital—the campus offered 100 acres of creative freedom.
Until its closure in 1952, the school was a vibrant village of art. A former hotel served as a dormitory, while barns and sheds were transformed into sun-drenched studios. Students spent six-week sessions painting landscapes, open-air figures, and still lifes, balanced by games of tennis, croquet, and swims in the local pools.
What the Collection Reveals
The archives has digitized every single student registration card from the Chester Springs records. This extensive list of 2,315 individual names provides vital documentation that can confirm:
- Personal Details: Registered names and home addresses.
- Academic History: Specific dates of attendance and courses taken.
- Financial Records: Tuition and fee payments.
- Special Distinctions: Notes on veteran status (GI Bill), scholarship awards, and even dormitory assignments.
Each entry allows you to click the student’s name to view the scan of their original index card. Because many artists returned year after year, these cards are displayed sequentially to show their growth and history with the school.
Start Your Research: Specialized Browse Lists
To help you navigate this vast collection, we have curated several specialized categories. Whether you are a genealogist, an art historian, or just curious about the Academy’s history, these links provide a great starting point:
- Browse Women Artists – Discover the significant number of female painters who shaped the Chester Springs legacy.
- Browse Veteran/GI Bill Artists – Trace the impact of post-war education on the American art scene.
- Browse Artist Couples – Explore the social connections and partnerships formed at the school.
- Browse Cresson Artists – See which students were awarded the prestigious Cresson Traveling Scholarship.
- Browse Male Artists
A Collaborative Effort
This project was made possible by the dedicated work of our staff and PAFA students. We would like to extend our deepest thanks to the project contributors:
- Sharon Yoon, Museum Collections Assistant (Project Lead)
- Lily Kalinovsky, PAFA BFA (Lead Digitization Technician)
- Nina Clifton, PAFA BFA
- Victor Surbrook, PAFA BFA
- Hoang Tran, Director of Library, Archives, & Collections
A Note on Accuracy: While we have made every effort to transcribe these names accurately, historical handwriting can be a challenge! If you believe a name has been transcribed incorrectly, please contact the Archives.
