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William F. McIlwraith

American, born Canada, 1867-1940


Details
Names

William F. McIlWraith

McIlWraith, William F.

William Forsythe McIlwraith

Born

Ontario 1867

Active

Oregon

Died

Fishkill 1940

Occupation or Type

printmaker

Northwest artist

Oregon artist

Bio

A successful commercial artist in New York, William McIlwraith moved to Hood River to farm in 1911. He had a Portland address in or about 1919 where he worked as a commercial artist and illustrator. His work was important for its documentation of the fishing and shipping activity on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. He avoided exhibitions and sold mainly to friends. After living twenty years in Portland where he was known as one of the leading etchers on the Pacific Coast, he returned to New York in 1939 in ill health. His series of calendars reflected his affection for many of the local sights: Burnside Bridge, Skidmore Fountain, the Battleship Oregon, Timberline Lodge, the McLoughlin House and more. McIlwraith was also a participant in the WPA and a close friend of Charles Heaney.

Artist biography reproduced with permission from the authors, Oregon Painters: the First Hundred Years (1859-1959), Ginny Allen and Jody Klevit.

Gender

Male

Related People

Associate of: Charles Heaney (American, 1897-1981)

Related Artworks
Media
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