The Photographic Arts Society: 1949

The Camera Enthusiasts had a vision of a single club that would serve all photogrphers when they were founded in 1927. Yet eight years after their founding they had a partner, the Camera Pictorialists of San Diego.

The Photographic Arts Society (founded 1937) had a member club, the San Diego Camera Club, by 1941.There was a boom in camera clubs after the close of World War II. Dr. Scott Watson unofficially renamed the Photographic Arts Society (PAS) to the Photographic Arts Society and Associated Clubs by 1948.

There were twelve camera clubs under the umbrella of the Photographic Arts Society in 1949. They were:

• Amateur Movie Club of San Diego (1949-2004)
• Camerart Camera Club of Chula Vista (1947)
• Coronado Camera Club (1947)
• La Jolla Camera Club (1947)
• La Mesa Camera Club (1947)
• Lens Art Camera Club (1947)
• Pacific Beach Camera Club (1947)
• The Photo Pictorialist (1947)
• Poly Photo Camera Club (1947)
• Pro-Am Club of National City (1947)
• San Diego Press Photographers Club (1947?)
• San Diego Camera Club (1942-1953)

It was clear to Dr. Scott Watson that the PAS had become something much different than what was intended in 1927 and 1937. He died before continuing with plans at a reorganization of the PAS's respondsibilities. That task fell to Carl Reupsch, the new president of the PAS. The Southern California Association of Camera Clubs was formed in 1950.