History of IWOCP

History of The Indiana World Organization of China Painters (IWOCP)

On Sept. 30, 1969 Hoosier China Painters held an all day meeting at Robert Lee Motel in New Albany, IN. Guests included individuals from Illinois and Kentucky as well as Indiana. Cecile Babcock was President of WOCP at the time. Fairy Loftus was President of Hoosier China Painters and she introduced Pauline Salyer the founder of WOCP as the guest speaker. 

This was the beginning of the Indiana WOCP organization as they received their charter under the name of Indiana Federation of China Painters.   The first slate of state officers were installed by Cecile Babcock of WOCP on May 9, 1970 at Lafayette Square Community Room, Indianapolis. Officers included:

President..................................Fairy Loftus

1st Vice-President....................Ofa Timberlake

2nd Vice-President...................Ruth Hilton

Recording Secretary...............Sylvia Wilson

Corresponding Secretary........Lou Whitaker

Treasurer.................................Massie Crutcher

Auditor....................................Dorothy Moore

Historian..................................Alma Sharrett

The name, Indiana Federation of China Painters, was changed to Indiana World Organization of China Painters (IWOCP) in 1980. The IWOCP was incorporated on Feb. 2, 1980 in Hobart, IN although it had been active for more than a decade prior to incorporation. 

IWOCP is a state chapter of the WOCP, an organization which has members throughout the world. In addition to the state organization, there are divisional organizations, known as "guilds" throughout the state. In 1998 IWOCP was comprised of 18 guilds with a total of 211 individual members. Twenty five years later, in 2023, IWOCP was comprised of five guilds with a total of 53 individual members.

Past Presidents of IWOCP

1970-1971Cecile Babcock Hoosier

1971-1972 Fairy Loftus Hoosier

1972-1973 Lu Whitaker Central

1973-1974 Ruth A. Hanna Riley

1974-1975 Dorothy Glanz LaPorte

1975-1976 Maude Bartlett Raccoon Valley

1976-1977 Mary Lou Daily Kokomo

1977-1978 Harry Hugar Eames Council

1978-1979 Ann Cocanoner Lafayette

1979-1980 Anna Mae Fagg Clay County

1980-1981 Marilyn Langbehn Indiana Dunes

1981-1982 Mary Thayer Laughery Valley

1982-1983 Sylvia Wormkan Evansville River Belles

1983-1984 Pat Davis Greenwood

1984-1985 Ruth Williams Warsaw

1985-1986 Vivian Harah Raintree

1986-1987 Kathy Kloepper Palette Talk

1987-1988 Liz Machgan Palette Talk

1988-1989 Anna Mae Kelly Hoosier

1989-1990 Louise Garrett Riley

1990-1991 Pauline Laskowski LaPorte

1991-1992 Vera White Raccoon Valley

1992-1993 Sue Harlow Kokomo

1993-1994 Betty Stewart Lafayette

1994-1995 Helen Hammond Indiana Dunes

1995-1996 Margaret Buckwinkel Evansville River Belles

1996-1997 Phyllis Gladden Greenwood

1997-1998 Dolores Shank Raintree

1998-1999 Lucile Charpie Bartholomew

1999-2000 Jolene Treace Palette Talk

2000-2001 Bettie Fields Hoosier

2001-2002 Anna Bokmeyer Central

2002-2003 Phyllis Gladden Greenwood

2003-2004 Colette Inderhees Kokomo

2004-2005 Louise Gillen Lafayette

2005-2006 Karen Norheim Indiana Dunes

2006-2007 Shirley Buis Greenwood

2007-2008 Dolores Shank Raintree

2008-2009 Barbara Bougher Palette Talk

2009-2010 Linda Lane Bartholomew

2010-2011 Ellen Wilson-Pruitt New Dimension

2011-2012 Claudia Lindman Blooms of Bloomington

2012-2013 Bettie Fields Hoosier

2013-2014 Joyce Dwulet Central

2014-2015 Karen Harrison Kokomo

2015-2016 Leanna Sherman Porcelain Firing Squad

2016-2017 Leanna Sherman Porcelain Firing Squad

2017-2018 Sherry Hoefling Bartholomew

2018-2019 Sherry Hoefling Bartholomew

2019-2020 Ellen Wilson-Pruitt New Dimension

2020-2021 Bertie David Kokomo

2021-2022 Bertie David Kokomo

2022-2023 Carol Moore Central

2023-2024 Carol Moore Central

The World Organization of China Painters (WOCP)

1980 Declaration of China Painting as a Fine Art by President Jimmy Carter

DECLARATION OF CHINA PAINTING AS A FINE ART BY PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER

January 3rd,1980

Ninety-Sixth Congress of the United States

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, the third day of January, one thousand nine hundred and eighty

JOINT RESOLUTION

JOINT RESOLUT

Designating July 1980 as "National Porcelain Art Month".

Whereas the art of painting on porcelain requires great skill, intensive training, and great artistic ability, and produces works of beauty; and

Whereas throughout history, the art of porcelain painting has provided a medium for the preservation of history and culture, and further, has been recognized as a fine art by all of the world's great civilizations; and

Whereas growing thousands of artists have studied ,explored, and enhanced the historic skills of porcelain painting, adding immeasurably to the cultural enrichment of our Nation; and

Whereas the efforts of these artists bring rich beauty and expanded dimensions to our national culture for the benefit and enrichment of the lives of all citizens:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

That July 1980 is designated as "National Porcelain Art Month" and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe such month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Approved July 2,1980 (filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 11:45 a.m., July 2,1980 ... Proclamation 4772)

Thomas O'Neill - Speaker of the House of Representatives

(signature illegible) - President of the Senate Pro Tempore

Jimmy Carter - President of the United States of America

Too often, china painting is classified and written off as “just a hobby.” With this declaration, the United States government recognized the skill and talent required to create porcelain art, which is important to keep in mind as we share our art with the world