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The Springfield Art Association is a visual arts center in Springfield, Illinois. Founded in 1913, the organization now hosts art education studios, two art galleries, an art library, a resident artist program, art and history outreach programs, and a historic house museum with historical and fine art permanent collections.

The Springfield Amateur Art Study Club
Before the Springfield Art Association was founded, a small club was started in 1909 by eight local Springfield women. The club's aim was to create an atmosphere of art in Springfield, Illinois, fostering the development of local artists while instilling in its students an appreciation of the beautiful. At this time, club members met monthly at each others' homes for a lecture, musical presentation, and refreshments. Local interest soon exploded, and by 1913, it was deemed necessary to create a permanent place for the club to direct its activities.

Roots in Historic Edwards Place
A co-founder of the Amateur Art Study Club, Elizabeth Capps, approached Alice Edwards Ferguson in 1913. Ferguson was the current owner of [Edwards Place], once owned by her father and mother, Benjamin S. Edwards and Helen Dodge Edwards. This historic home, once a social and political center of Springfield during Lincoln's tenure in the city, seemed the perfect location for the club to meet by renting a couple of rooms. Ferguson decided against renting the rooms - in favor of donating the entire house to the club as a memorial to her parents. Consequently, the club was then founded as the Springfield Art Association on September 28, 1913.

Early Growth
The vision from the very founding of the Springfield Art Association was to make it a major regional arts organization. Lectures continued, but now the lectures could be conducted by leading artists, such as Pauline Palmer, Lorado Taft, Jens Jenson, and Gutzon Borglum. Not only that, but the organization was able to conduct exhibits within Edwards Place, featuring a multitude of artists, as well as national arts groups like the American Federation of Arts, the National Society of Etchers, and the New York Watercolor Society. All of this was achieved while continuing art classes in the second level of Edwards Place and building a permanent collection of fine art.

M. G. Nelson Family Gallery
Constructed in 1937-1938 as the Art Gallery, the M. G. Nelson Family Gallery is a fully remodeled and modernized space to display art exhibitions. The Springfield Art Association holds local, regional, and national exhibits within this space on a constantly changing cycle throughout each year <ref name="SAA".

The SAA Collective
Located in a satellite location, 105 North 5th Street, in Springfield, the SAA Collective hosts dozens of local artists as juried members who display their work in rotating schedules throughout the year. The SAA Collective is housed in the Broadwell Pharmacy building, which was built in the 1860s, and later served as a pharmacy for 125 years.

School of Art
The school of art, once housed on the second floor of historic Edwards Place, is now run through two buildings on the main Springfield Art Association campus. The Condell Studio of Art contains all of the 2D art classes and the attached Back Studio contains mixed media classes. The computer lab is within the Condell Studio of Art and teaches Photoshop and photography classes. The 3D Studio building includes the Baima Glass Studio, the Smith and Nickelson Metals Studio, and the Prairie Earth and Fire Ceramics Studio <ref name="SAA".

Michael Victor II Art Library
The Michael Victor II Art Library serves the Springfield Art Association as a collection of art volumes used for research, enjoyment, and inspiration. In addition to its holdings, the library hosts the Molly Schlich Film Series, a fall book sale fundraiser, and the Art History Happy Hour series <ref name="SAA".

Edwards Place
Edwards Place is the oldest home surviving in Springfield, Illinois on its original foundation. The house was home to Benjamin S. Edwards and served as a social and political center of activity during the mid-19th century. Today, the house serves as a historic house museum for the Springfield Art Association, and houses an impressive collection of 19th century decorative arts, including the courting couch once sat in by Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd and a square grand piano that is said to have played at the Lincoln wedding.