The Pennsylvania Academicians were a group of artists charged with supervising the Academy’s Life School and assisting with exhibitions. Members were elected by the Academicians themselves.

According to the regulations outlined by the board of directors, the Academicians were to be painters, sculptors, architects, or engravers of recognized merit. Membership was limited to forty, with the combined number of architects and engravers not exceeding one quarter of the total. The Academicians were responsible for selecting professors and keepers (or curators) of the Academy. Each was expected to contribute an example of his work to the permanent collection, although there is little evidence that the elected artists observed this rule.

A council of six Academicians was elected annually for the purpose of handling routine business, their expenses paid by the directors. The Council of Academicians was permitted to attend board meetings, although it had no vote on anything other than the awarding of prizes. The Academicians were active in institutional affairs throughout the 1850s and 1860s. After 1871 they ceased to exist as a functioning organization.

Few surviving records remain of the Pennsylvania Academicians and the Associate Artists. Minutes of the board of directors between 1812 and 1871 make note of the nominations and elections.

List of Academicians