Benjamin West Society (Swarthmore College)

The Benjamin West Society was an organization dedicated to promoting the arts at Swarthmore College. Formally inaugurated in 1931, it supported an annual lecture, acquired artwork for the College, and sponsored a variety of exhibits. Originally, it also focused on preserving the memory of Benjamin West whose traditional birthplace is on the campus of Swarthmore College. The group's activities were spearheaded by Frederic Newlin Price (1884-1963), a Quaker and New York City art dealer. The organization was disbanded in 1954, but the Benjamin West Memorial Lecture Series was continued, supported by the income from a donation made by Price.