Copyright © 2020 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
In 1920 Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Walter Moses went to Colorado Springs in June to sketch and invited the Madam and I to call on him, which we will do…We left for the West August 19th. As I have written the trip up very fully in my travelogues, I will not repeat it here. Arrived home on September 28th, having been gone forty days, it was certainly some trip.”
Walter Farrington Moses (1874-1947) was his half-brother, and a well-known American Landscape painter.
The Wikipedia entry for Walter notes the following: “After studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he founded the Art Craft Club of Chicago in 1916 and was art director of Vogue Studios. He was an instructor at the Fashion School of Illustrating in Chicago. He was the author-illustrator of Artistic Anatomy and managing director of the California Art Club in 1922. A prolific plein air painter, his works are infused with light and air and captured the unspoiled beauty of Southern California of the 1920s and 1930s. He settled in Los Angeles in 1922 and founded the Art Guild Academy in 1930 where he taught for many years. He lived in Eagle Rock, California until his death on October 25, 1947. Moses signed his paintings using various variations of his name, including Walter Farrington Moses, Walter Farrington, W. Farrington, Farrington, Moses, Farrington Moses, W.F. Moses and Walton. Here is a link to some of his work previously sold at auction: https://www.invaluable.com/artist/moses-walter-farrington-kosq2fakok/sold-at-auction-prices/
Walter was the second of two sons born to Lucius Moses from his second marriage to Adeline G. Moses (sometimes spelled Adaline). She was eighteen years younger than Lucius, born on April 17, 1874. Walter primarily grew up in Chicago after his parents left the small town of Sterling. In Chicago, Lucius ran a grocery store. At the time Walter lived with his father, mother, brother Kirke, and much older half-sister, who was an actress.
On June 7, 1899, Walter married Florence S. Babcock in Kankakee, Illinois. The couple raised two children, Horace J. and Edith S. The 1910 census listed Walter as a commercial artist, living in Kankakee. His mother was living with them too at the age of 75.
There is so much information about Walter out there; really too much to fit in a single post. On Oct. 15, 1916 Moses placed an ad in the “Chicago Tribune.” The want ad noted, “ARTIST _ A firm in Toronto, Canada, operating a complete publishing plants, desires the services of a high grade designer – one who is capable of earning $75 a week; must have had experience in preparation of dummies for catalogues, folders, etc. For further particulars see MR. WALTER F. MOSES, Commercial Art School, 116 S. Michigan-av.” (Chicago Tribune 15 Oct 1916, page 64).
Walter’s WWI Draft Registration card listed his occupation as “Art Prop. School,” and his employer’s name as “Commercial Art School” at 116 S. Michigan Ave in Chicago. In 1918, his physical description noted that Walter was short, of medium build, with brown eyes and gray hair. Walter was 44 years old at the time. His residence was at 317 N. Humphrey St. in Oak Park, nine blocks away from his older brother.
By 1919, Walter Moses placed an ad in the “Chicago Tribune:”
ARTIST.
Figure man, capable of doing commercial illustrating: $5,000 per year guaranteed, with opportunity of making $6,000 or $7,000; out of town position, Apply to Walter F. Moses. Commercial Art School. 116 S. Michigan” (Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 1919, page 20).
The 1920 census still listed Walter living in Oak Park and working as a landscape artist. He and his older brother lived in the same area, and both were well-known for their painted landscapes.
At the beginning of 1921, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “Walter Moses called and we talked over our plans for the coming summer at Colorado Springs and Manito, where we expect to clean up a fortune on small pictures besides getting some sketches around Pike’s Peak.”
Later in 1921, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “December 13th the Madam and I were on our way to Kansas City where we put in a day, then on our way to Los Angeles where we arrived early Saturday morning. Spent the day with Walter Moses and family.”
After working in Tacoma in 1922, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “On completion of our work, we went to Oakland for a day’s visit with Walter and family, the we proceeded on our way to Los Angeles.”
In 1924, Moses wrote, “I went over to see Walter and family. September 1st we went out on a sketching trip and I certainly enjoyed it very much.. Had a delightful Christmas day at Walters.”
By 1929, the “Los Angeles Times” reported that Walter Moses was teaching “short cuts in business” for artists (27 Jan. 1929, page 64). The article announced, “Guild Academy Offers Students Practical Aid in Learning Profession. An Unusually interesting offer to students who wish to make commercia art their profession is offered by the Art Guild Academy. Under this offer young artists are given the privilege of testing their drawing ability without charge for the tuition. The test includes life and illustrative drawing and creative subjects in art fundamentals. After the test the students are frankly advised as to just what their possibilities for us success are in commercial art. This development in commercial art which is offered by the academy has been built and is personally directed under Walter F. Moses. The Art Guild Academia is aware that this is a commercial and industrial era and its entire curriculum is composed of subjects for which there is demand. It’s training leads directly to the most desirable branches of commercial art. The training of the academy appeals only to the student who wishes to enter the field professionally. The course offers a thorough study of the practical application of art in the commercial world. The aim of the school is to fit students for commercial artists without serving student apprenticeship. A feature of this course is that the lessons are all illustrated and printed for the convenience of students who wish to do additional work at home.”
In 1930, the Academy was still going strong. The “Los Angeles Times” reported, “Training of young men and women for good positions in the practical commercial art profession is the aim of the Art Guild Academy, 2405 West Sixth Street, according Walter F. Moses, founder and principal of the institution” (26 Jan. 1930, page 55). One of Moses’ more successful students was Herb Schmidt (Hi-Desert Star, Yucca Valley, California, 7 Jun 1978, page 20). He certainly made his mark in the fine art world.
Walter passed away on Oct. 25, 1947, thirteen years after his older brother Tom.
The “Los Angeles Times” published his obituary on Oct. 28, 1947:
Walter F. Moses
Funeral Rites for Walter Farrington Moses, 72, landscape artist, of 5215 Rockland Ave., will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. today in the Wee Kirk o’ the Heather Forest Lawn Memorial-Park. Mr. Moses died Saturday at Queen of Angels Hospital. He has been a resident of Los Angeles since 1927, coming here from Chicago where he founded the Commercial Art School. The artist established the Art Guild Academy here. The artist leaves his widow, a son Horace, daughter, Mrs. Edith M. Wills, and a brother.”
To be continued…
