Date in History: 1946

In 1946, James Baird, then a junior at Fort Atkinson High School, entered a piece of his artwork in a national art contest for high school students sponsored by the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburg and Scholastic Magazine. Jim’s picture, which he titled “Home Town,” depicted the Fort Atkinson skyline in pencil, ink and watercolor. It surely must have impressed the judges as they selected Jim’s artwork to go on to the national exhibit at the Pittsburg Art Gallery.

Of course Jim would go on to join W. D. Hoard & Sons as an artist, photographer and finally Artistic Director over a 44-year career with Hoard’s Dairyman Magazine. His scratchboard Christmas covers for that magazine were instant classics admired the world over.

This historic document aired on the radio as an Historic Minute on 03/21/2005.

Top