The Art Association of La Crosse was founded February 22, 1915, in the art department of the Normal School (later known as the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse). Originally, there were 282 charter members, all very prominent people in the community at the time. By June 1916, the membership roll boasted 305 persons. The Association was considered to be a chapter of the National Federation of Arts.

The first annual report states that the inspiration for the organization "grew out of an exhibit" of forty-three pictures from the Artists' Guild of Chicago. The original elected officers included David O. Coate (president), Frances Sill (first vice president), Katherine McDonald (second vice president), Helen Dorset (secretary), and Carl Rau (treasurer). The group also elected 19 members to the Board of Directors.

The main purpose of the Association was to sponsor exhibits and talks on art in La Crosse. These exhibits were free and open to the public. Early exhibits were held in the art room of the La Crosse Public Library and later in the Masonic Temple and Chamber of Commerce building. The Association also purchased and maintained their own permanent art collection.

Another group that had its roots in the Art Association was the Art Workers' Club. This organization was a sketch club that sponsored a weekly drawing class for its members. The group was generally instructed by Mrs. C.K. Pettingill who offered additional outside instruction for a fee.

The final mention of the Association in these scrapbooks is in 1926. The last scrapbook contains many articles on the Men's Sketch Club, of which D.O. Coate was a member, and some other art notes in the La Crosse newspapers, 1932-1939.