Arts Fete 1938 publicity photos and program

Photograph

-

Saugatuck Douglas Historical Society

89-1-103 A harbor or oval Day.jpg 1.5MB: MISS MARY ELLEN ARSENAU of Champaign, Ill., above, a connoisseur of art, Wednesday was given the key to the city of Saugatuck, with the approval of the city council, as the annual Arts fete opened. At the presentation, left to right, were: COUNCILMEN CARY BIRD, ED FORCE, MISS ARSENAU, COUNCILMAN DICK NEWHAM, MAYOR FRANK SEWERS, who presented the key, and COUNCILMEN FRANK WICKS AND RALPH CLAPP.
89-1-103 A harbor or oval Day.jpg 1.5MB

MISS MARY ELLEN ARSENAU of Champaign, Ill., above, a connoisseur of art, Wednesday was given the key to the city of Saugatuck, with the approval of the city council, as the annual Arts fete opened. At the presentation, left to right, were: COUNCILMEN CARY BIRD, ED FORCE, MISS ARSENAU, COUNCILMAN DICK NEWHAM, MAYOR FRANK SEWERS, who presented the key, and COUNCILMEN FRANK WICKS AND RALPH CLAPP.

Name/Title

Arts Fete 1938 publicity photos and program

Entry/Object ID

2023.10.115

Description

Two photographic prints of Saugatuck village leaders dressed in pilgrim or musketeer costumes that include broad-brimmed hats with plumes and oversize buckles, long cloaks with wide collars. Saugatuck president Frank Sewers is giving a village key to Mary Ellen Arsenau of Champaign, Illinois because the initially-intended recipient Lyman Atwood Marshall of Detroit was not present. Photo taken to promote the annual Arts Fete organized by the Saugatuck Art association. Scan of Grand Rapids Press newspaper clipping about event. Scan of August 10-12, 1938 Saugatuck Arts Fete program that describes the "Donning of the Smocks," a parade, presentation of "Key of the Citye", a market square, puppet show by Pulcord Puppeteers, one-act play by Mrs. Gordon Hoffman aka Elizabeth Hoffman, an orchestra on a barge moored at the Ferry, a Maypole Dance on the Village Green, a ball at the Big Pavilion and a grand march of costumes.

Photograph Details

Type of Photograph

Print, photograph

Subject Person or Organization

Sewers, Frank Wilmot 1894-1970, Bird, Cary Hanchett 1894-1959, Daggett, Alvin H. 1880-1966, Force, Edward D. Jr. 1908-1972, Newnham, Richard Butler "Dick" 1895-1973, Wicks, Frank Herman 1883-1961, Clapp, Ralph W. 1874-1953, Zwemer, Joseph Benjamin 1879-1945, Saugatuck Art Association 1931-, Hoffman, Elizabeth S. "Betty" (Gregory) 1894-1960

Context

For a 1939 color photo of the pilgrim costumes see 2025.09.04

Collection

Festivals, events, parades, celebrations

Cataloged By

Winthers, Sally

Acquisition

Accession

2023.10

Acquisition Method

Found in Collection

Lexicon

Search Terms

Arts fete, Arts ball, fete

Dimensions

Dimension Description

digital assets

Location

Digital data in CatalogIt
031 A+B+C+D Photo Files

General Notes

Note

These image(s) were copied from the SDHC photo blog [or the Jack Sheridan drive if that was a superior version] in preparation for updating the SDHC website in 2023.

Create Date

October 5, 2023

Update Date

September 9, 2025