1871: Samuel Stewart Fleisher is born to German Jewish immigrants Simon and Cecilia Fleisher, and was third of five children. His family owned the Fleisher Yarn Company, a major manufacturer of hand-knitting yarns and worsted fabric
1885-86: Construction of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Evangelists
1898: Samuel Fleisher opens the Graphic Sketch Club in the Jewish Union building at 422 Bainbridge Street
1916: Due to the success of the Club, the program acquires new space in the form of the abandoned Romanesque revival school building of the St. Martin’s College for Indigent Boys
1922: Acquires the adjoining Church of the Evangelist
1923: Samuel S. Fleisher is the first Jewish recipient of the prestigious Edward Bok Philadelphia Award
1944: Samuel Fleisher dies, leaving his estate in trust to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and it is renamed the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial
1946: Fleisher starts summer program
1978: Start of Challenge Exhibition Series, now known as the Wind Challenge
1982: Fleisher is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
1982: Installation of Siah Armajani’s Kahn Lecture Room
1983: Becomes independent 501(c)3 nonprofit
1990: Fleisher establishes the Founder’s Award in honor of Samuel Fleisher’s vision
2000: Acquires Works on Paper Building
2002: First Print Love-In, in collaboration of with Prints for Progress
2004: First Dear Fleisher 4×6 Works of Art Event
2005: Fleisher completes renovations to update and connect buildings
2012: Launches ColorWheels
