George Stevens, the first director of the Toledo Museum of Art (established in 1901) convened a meeting on June 9, 1917, for the purpose of planning exhibition of Toledo artists’ work. Invited to attend were representatives of the three most prominent art groups in the city: The Tile Club of Toledo, an all-male art club established in 1895; Athena Art Society, an all-female art club established in 1903; and the now-defunct ArtKlan, a commercial graphic design club established in 1913.

Together on that day, these four organizations formed the Toledo Federation of Art Societies (TFAS) to foster professional opportunities for Toledo’s artists. Their first exhibition was held in April 1918.

In 1948, they established the Purchase Award for the annual Toledo Area Artist Exhibition, to begin a permanent collection now numbering over 200 works—the only permanent public collection entirely comprising the work of local artists, creating a unique, seven-decade survey of the artistic trends of the region.

Several retrospective exhibits featuring this work have been hosted over the years by the Toledo Museum of art, as well as local galleries, schools and universities. Single pieces were lent to local hospitals, universities, municipal buildings and corporations for the enjoyment and education of the public, before being gathered “home” for cataloguing and conservation.

Originally limited to organizations within the city limits, TFAS membership now includes art societies and businesses, as well as over 90 independent artist-members, from Toledo and its eighteen surrounding counties. All three of the remaining founding organizations have continued as active member-organizations, promoting TFAS programming, for the past 107 years.

And now, in 2024, TFAS has successfully achieved its original mission. Collaboration amongst area arts groups is now standard practice and professional development and exhibition opportunities abound for local artists, rendering most TFAS initiatives redundant to those of the TFAS member-organizations. Therefore, Toledo Federation of Art Societies has voted to officially dissolve the organization, as of January 1, 2025.

The historic legacy of TFAS will live on, however, through the continuance of the TFAS permanent collection, now proudly housed and maintained by the Schedel Foundation of Schedel Arboretum & Gardens in Elmore, Ohio.