Early Life and Family:
Walter Emerson Baum was a Pennsylvania-born artist, teacher, and writer. He was born in Sellersville in 1884 and began studying art with William Trego when he was twenty. His wife, Flora Baum, also studied art. She and their daughter Marian posed for William Trego on several occasions, and Baum remembered Trego singing to the baby as he painted her. Eventually, Flora decided to give up art to take care of the four Baum children. However, she often accompanied her husband on his outings to paint landscapes and later helped in running the Kline-Baum School of Art. Several of their grandchildren went on to become artists, and have paintings in museums and galleries.
Baum with QCSD:
Ms. Christine, an art teacher at Quakertown High School offered background on how some of Walter Baum’s paintings made their way to the High School. Currently, they hang in the lobby in a temperature-controlled case equipped with alarms. Before they were placed there, the paintings were scattered. Some were in the old library, some in the district office, etc. Many were donated by graduating classes. Years ago, the Quakertown Education Foundation had them brought back, and fundraised for the upkeep and display case of the paintings. Next time you find yourself in Quakertown Community High School, take a look at Walter Baum’s paintings!
Artwork:
Baum’s artwork is known to capture the beauty of Pennsylvania through landscapes, vibrant colors, and picturesque, detailed scenes. Many are depictions of rural life, bodies of water, and nature scenes, many varying in season. At one point, he painted over a thousand 4×6 miniature landscapes. His work is a gorgeous collection that celebrates Pennsylvania and its beauty, and each seems to hold a unique sense of nostalgia.
Legacy:
Baum encouraged others to pursue their passions of art, teaching summer art classes in 1926. The popularity of these classes led him to cofound the Kline-Baum School of Art in 1929. Several years later, in 1936, he helped found the Allentown Art Museum, the Lehigh Art Alliance, and the Circulating Picture Club. He became an art critic, writing over 500 reviews for the Philadelphia Bulletin, and serving as their art editor. Baum was given an honorary doctorate from Lehigh University in 1946. Today, the Baum School of Art (renamed in his honor after his passing) remains a place for its students to teach and learn about art, a place where new artists can begin, and where the love of art is shared and celebrated. His work remains a timeless preservation of PA and its stunning scenery, and his school ensures that young artists keep art alive.
