William F. McIlwraith
American, born Canada, 1867-1940
- Names
William F. McIlWraith
McIlWraith, William F.
William Forsythe McIlwraith
- Born
Ontario 1867
- Active
- 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)