1881-1902 1903-1919 1930-1939 1940-1949 1950-1959
1960-1969 1970-19791980-1988

1920-1929

Swain School began charging fees in 1921, although it still claimed to offer free tuition. The free tuition claim was dropped from the catalogues in 1933. For many years the cost was $60 per year for a full time student, and $20 for night school.

The 1921 catalog cover at left is student art work, designed by Flora Levesque.

Crapo Gallery built 1925

The William F. Crapo Gallery was founded in 1925 to provide Swain students and the greater New Bedford community with an opportunity to view original exhibitions of art. The Georgian Revival gallery was a gift to the school fromthe Crapo family in memoryof William Wallace Crapo, oneof Swain’s original trustees. It was officially dedicated in 1927 and directly connected with the Swain homestead.

Drawing by student William Skiff, who won several prizes in 1920

There were a series of annual prizes, and an annual exhibition of student work. Many works were pictured in the catalogues.

Catalogue covers
Click on the thumbnails for a larger image.

1920-1921 1922-1923 1923-1924 1924-1925 1925-1926

1926-1927 1927-1928 1929-1930