The Joy of Life is Doing Things – CCA 100 Years Ago

Following its founding in 1907 in the Studio Building on Shattuck, the college quickly outgrew its first two addresses. In 1910, the school expanded to include 2119 Allston Way, formerly the Kellogg School and the Berkeley High School, and continued to use the building through 1925 until the move to the Oakland campus was complete in 1926.

Modeling and drawing classes from life were taught separately for men and women during this time period.

Photograph of moveable desks designed by CSAC students for Thousand Oaks School in 1918 published with the caption "Movable Desks for Kindergarten and Primary Grade Use" in the January 1925 issue of Sierra Educational News to illustrate an article titled "Industrial Art Education" written by Frederick Meyer. This is one example of projects taken up by the college to design and build furniture for local educational institutions during this time period.

A student event featuring the sale of various works created at the college, likely an early precursor to the beloved tradition of craft fairs at the college that still happens annually today.

By the 1930’s, after the college had moved to Oakland and Guild Hall had been constructed, CSAC would have a space for various theatrical productions put on by the faculty and students, and classes in set design, costuming, etc., were offered.

Article about the Jinks held to celebrate the end of the first term of the school, then called the School of the California Guild of Arts and Crafts, in 1907.

Students in costume for the school Jinks, an annual tradition that continued following the Medieval Jinks in 1907 at the close of the school’s first term.

Lucy Pierce, now faculty and pictured in costume, appeared in the first Jinks in 1907 as a student.

Highlights, a CSAC student publication, ran approximately between 1912 and 1922, which is determined by the address as CSAC began its move from its final Berkeley campus on Allston Way to the Treadwell Estate in Oakland in 1922. Highlights was the first of a long legacy of student and community produced publications and periodicals, each representative of the college’s campus culture during their time period and often including a range of humorous writings and observations to critical dialog about the institution. Contents include “Light on Highlights,” “The Future of Publicity,” “Art and Ego,” “Speculations” and “Mirthful Highlights.” Undergraduate student contributors for this issue included Frank Geritz (Editor), Glenn Wessels (Assistant Editor), Lomita Sievers (Josh Editor), Esther Crandall (Art Editor), and Bob Hestwood (Business Manager).

A publication of articles and accolades with both student and staff contributors: Jay S. Green (Assistant Secretary of the Students' Club 1916-1917), Eldon N. Dye (Class of 1917), and Albert H. Mundhenk (Art Editor). Contents include “Anniversary Lecture Course,” “The Latest Addition to the Art School,” “Gleanings,” “Art School Student Wins Prize of $1000,” “Students Honor Von Schmidt,” “Art School Loses in Sacramento Fire,” “Officers of the Students' Club 1916-1917.”

Treadwell Hall (now Macky Hall) two years after the school moved to the estate in Oakland on Broadway. Meyer, the faculty, and the students were well on their way renovating the site to fit their needs. A handwritten note on the back of this photograph reads “‘X’ - Room to be added here.” Over the decades, the college would expand on several of its buildings, the original Treadwell ones and the ones added to the site to fit the growing needs of the curriculum and student body.

Xavier Timoteo Martinez, for whom Martinez Hall is named, is seen here socializing with students Jim Stevens, John Moreland, Louis Moulthrop, Alexander Nepote, and Jo Norval Gill. Xavier was a painter, poet, philosopher, and art instructor at the College of Arts and Crafts from 1908 to 1942 and a pivotal member of California's art community. Image courtesy of Janie Howard Walsh, Class of 1936.

Letitia Archambault and Minerva Hogadone in the CCAC garden.

Class in Elementary Modeling, September 1932 with instructor Frederick Meyer. Students from left to right: Doris Walls, Leah Beall, Meyer, Carl Jennings, Brother Bartholomew, Phyllis Gregg, Diane Muncy, Louise Waters, Muriel Fournier, Harriet Smith, Hargery Sample, Martina Costo, Harriet Middleton, Warren Dunbar, Stella M. Wong.

During the early years on the Oakland campus, there were exercise courts for recreation. They were also used as meeting areas before a building could be built with a large assembly space.

Blue Gum Eucalyptus lined road leading from Broadway toward the Treadwell Mansion (now Macky Hall).

Birthday guests including Frederick Meyer, Laetitia Meyer, Isabelle Percy West, Xavier Martinez, and Babs Meyer in Guild Hall. Built in 1930, Guild Hall contained the school’s first auditorium, with facilities for producing plays, and a public exhibit hall in which to display student work. This mixed-use building continued to serve the school for the following 40 years until it was destroyed by fire in 1971.

Albert Attwell and Jean Peterson, the prizewinning couple from the Bal Masque Futura in 1936 held in Guild Hall. This costumed event was an annual tradition in the early days of CCAC and would evolve into the Surrealist Balls and other costumed parties well into the following eras.

After renovating the mansion (now Macky Hall), the barn, and the Carriage House for residential and classroom use, among the first buildings that Meyer and the students built was the Woodworking Shop (now Facilities Building).

The Woodworking Shop (now Facilities Building) after construction on the building was completed.

California School of Arts and Crafts sign on the Broadway wall at the west corner of the Oakland campus as it was in December 1931. This photo was taken from the "Associated" Station, the gas station across Broadway from campus at that time. Treadwell Mansion (now Macky Hall) can be seen beyond the wall.

Students playing tennis in Inez Feliz's class.

Members of the CSAC Riding Group at Sequoia Riding Club in Oakland, CA. From left to right: Harry Donlevy, Pearl Norton, Aline Dutton plus 3 unknown individuals.

Faun sculpture on the Oakland campus created by student Hazel Z. Weller (BAEd 1926) as part of Nova Bartlette's sculpture class. As the gardens took shape during this era, many of the artworks included were made by the faculty and students in classes and in the studios.

CCA’s founders from left to right: Professor Perham W. Nahl, Professor Xavier Martinez, Dr. William S. Porter, and College Founder Frederick Meyer. These caps and gowns were designed by Meyer and inspired by those worn in medieval artisans guilds.

The following decade would mark substantial changes for the college and its programs. In 1936, CSAC would change its name to the California College of Arts and Crafts and receive a major accreditation, founding several of its core programs still active today such as Ceramics, Jewelry/Metal Arts, Painting/Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.