Royal B. Farnum
Encyclopedia
Royal Bailey Farnum was an American art educator who served in administrative roles in various public and private educational institutions in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island during the first half of the 20th Century.
to Daniel Stoddard Farnum and Flora L. Bailey. He married the former Adeline Burnett on 19 December 1907 and raised three children.
He graduated from the Massachusetts Normal Art School in 1906 and took a job as the Director of the Normal Department of the Cleveland School of Art
, while simultaneously teaching art in the Cleveland Public School District. In 1909, he became the Director of Art Education for the State of New York.
Farnum was initially hired to be the Superintendent of the Department of Applied Arts at the Rochester Athenæum and Mechanics Institute in 1918, but rose to the presidency the next year, serving until 1921. Farnum, faced with state-mandated raises for secondary school teachers and enrollment swollen with veterans of World War I
, embarked on a fund-raising campaign to boost the compensation of the Institute's faculty. He also considered proposals to merge with the University of Rochester
or to take over the University's old buildings as it moved to its River Campus, ideas that were opposed by both George Eastman
and Carl Lomb.
Farnum also served on the Memorial Art Gallery
Board of Managers from 1920 to 1924.
In 1921, he returned to the Massachusetts Normal Art School to serve as its Principal and as Director of Art Education for the state of Massachusetts.
and was subsequently promoted to Executive Vice President in 1937.
He served as president of the National Association for Art Education from 1936–1938, the National Association of Schools of Design from 1925–1936, and the Federal Council on Art Education from 1925–1936.
During World War II
, he helped the war effort by assisting in the development of color schemes for optimal camouflage.
Farnum was bestowed with an honorary Art D.
from Brown University
in 1935 and received the Michael Friedsam Medal in 1942. RISD's Farnum Hall is named after him. He retired from RISD in 1946 and died in Plainfield, Connecticut
in 1967.
Early life and career
He was born in Somerville, MassachusettsSomerville, Massachusetts
Somerville is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, located just north of Boston. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 75,754 and was the most densely populated municipality in New England. It is also the 17th most densely populated incorporated place in...
to Daniel Stoddard Farnum and Flora L. Bailey. He married the former Adeline Burnett on 19 December 1907 and raised three children.
He graduated from the Massachusetts Normal Art School in 1906 and took a job as the Director of the Normal Department of the Cleveland School of Art
Cleveland Institute of Art
The Cleveland Institute of Art is a private college of art and design located in University Circle, Cleveland, Ohio. It was founded in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women. From 1891 until 1948 it was named Cleveland School of Art. During the Great Depression the school...
, while simultaneously teaching art in the Cleveland Public School District. In 1909, he became the Director of Art Education for the State of New York.
Farnum was initially hired to be the Superintendent of the Department of Applied Arts at the Rochester Athenæum and Mechanics Institute in 1918, but rose to the presidency the next year, serving until 1921. Farnum, faced with state-mandated raises for secondary school teachers and enrollment swollen with veterans of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, embarked on a fund-raising campaign to boost the compensation of the Institute's faculty. He also considered proposals to merge with the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
or to take over the University's old buildings as it moved to its River Campus, ideas that were opposed by both George Eastman
George Eastman
George Eastman was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream...
and Carl Lomb.
Farnum also served on the Memorial Art Gallery
Memorial Art Gallery
The Memorial Art Gallery is the civic art museum of Rochester, New York. Founded in 1913, it is part of the University of Rochester and occupies the southern half of the University's former Prince Street campus...
Board of Managers from 1920 to 1924.
In 1921, he returned to the Massachusetts Normal Art School to serve as its Principal and as Director of Art Education for the state of Massachusetts.
The Rhode Island School of Design
In 1929, he took a job as Educational Director for the Rhode Island School of DesignRhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
and was subsequently promoted to Executive Vice President in 1937.
He served as president of the National Association for Art Education from 1936–1938, the National Association of Schools of Design from 1925–1936, and the Federal Council on Art Education from 1925–1936.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he helped the war effort by assisting in the development of color schemes for optimal camouflage.
Farnum was bestowed with an honorary Art D.
Doctor of Arts
The Doctor of Arts is a discipline-based terminal doctoral degree that was originally conceived and designed to be an alternative to the traditional research-based Doctor of Philosophy and the education-based Doctor of Education . Like other doctorates, the D.A. is an academic degree of the...
from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1935 and received the Michael Friedsam Medal in 1942. RISD's Farnum Hall is named after him. He retired from RISD in 1946 and died in Plainfield, Connecticut
Plainfield, Connecticut
Plainfield is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,619 at the 2000 census. The town comprises four villages: Plainfield , Moosup , Wauregan , and Central Village . Each village has their own respective United States Post Office and fire department...
in 1967.