George Macaulay Irwin

George Macaulay Irwin (May 2, 1921 – November 24, 2020) was an American expert in the arts and a businessman, editor, musician and conductor. Irwin is known for his work with arts organizations on the local, state, and national levels, as well as his efforts in preserving historic architecture. He was also the founder of America's first arts council, the Quincy Society of Fine Arts, the founder and first chairman of the Illinois Arts Council, founder and first president of the Americans for the Arts (formerly American Council for the Arts),

Early life Irwin was born and raised in Quincy, Illinois and graduated from Quincy Public Schools in 1939.

Irwin then attended the University of Michigan and graduated in 1943.

Career Upon college graduation, Irwin moved back to Quincy, Illinois and worked at Irwin Paper Company from 1943 to 1969. He was the Personnel Director of the company from 1950 to 1969. In 1947, Irwin became the editor of Adventure in Enterprise, a biography of Leaton Irwin, the man who founded Irwin Paper Co. in 1887. Irwin served as a chairman on the board of directors at Irwin Paper Company, the Peoria Paper House, Inc. and the Decatur Paper House Inc. from 1961 to 1969.

Irwin was the collector of 20th century art by American artists, and starting in 1950, he commissioned works from American composers, painters, and sculptors for his collection.

Local activities Year Organization Role Notes 1946–1964 Quincy Chamber Music Ensemble Founder and Music Director 1947–1977 Quincy Society of Fine Arts Founder and First President 1947–1964, 1964–1967 Quincy Symphony Orchestra Founder and Conductor, Advisor 1948–1955 Sunday Music Club President Committee formed to re-organize the organization 1951–1965, 1980–1990 Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County President, Member of Restoration Committee 1961–2020 Quincy Foundation President 1966–1981 Culver-Stockton College Board of Trustees 1996 Historic Quincy Architecture Chairman of Steering Committee and producer A book of color photographs and text of 1830s to 1930s Quincy buildings

Irwin was a former scoutmaster for Troop 8, former board member and president of Woodland Home, and a former board member, president, and chairman of the United Fund. He was also a former board member for the following organizations: Quincy Civic Music Association, Blessing Hospital, 1982–1990 Hubbard Street Dance Company, Chicago Advisory Board Tanglewood 1968–1971 Business Committee for the Arts Founding board member Loan and Trust Company (Patton & Fisher, Architects, 1892) Ernest Wood Office and Studio (Ernest Wood, architect, 1912) Free Public Library (Patton & Fisher, 1888) (Lead the public effort to defeat a bond issue and helped the library find another downtown location)

Surveys, studies, tours, and literature organized by Irwin 1976: Organized Quincy's first Historic House Tour which resulted in the organization of the private group Quincy Preserves the next year (Through the Quincy Society of Fine Arts) 1996: Developed the plan and led the effort to raise $130,000 to produce Historic Quincy Architecture, a 128-page book of color photographs of Quincy's most important houses and commercial and public buildings from the 1830s to the 1930s. Sale of the 6,500 has benefited nine Quincy cultural groups (Suggested by Houston architectural photographer Richard Payne) 1973 Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts (Culver-Stockton College, Canton, MO) 1981 First City of Quincy Arts Award (Quincy Society of Fine Arts) 1983 Preservation Honor Award (National Trust for Historic Preservation) 1990 Lifetime Achievement Award (Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation, Chicago) 1996 Distinguished Service Award for Support of the Arts, presented at July conference in Puerto Rico (National Governors Association) 1999 Richard Driehaus Foundation Award for lifetime work in historic preservation (Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois) and serving as First chairman through 1971 (Illinois Arts Council) 2000 Governor's Proclamation: "George M. Irwin Day in Illinois" April 28, 2000 (State of Illinois) 2000 Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (Quincy University) 2006 Historic Quincy Business District Award for Excellence in Downtown Revitalization, Preservation Pioneer Award 2007 Recognition as Founder and First President at 60th Anniversary Reception in November (Quincy Society of Fine Arts) 2008 Selina Roberts Ottum Award for 60 years of service to the Arts and Community Development in Philadelphia during June 2008 (Americans for the Arts, co-sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts)