Dr. Julius Richter (American, 1876-1974) painter and printmaker, physician, surgeon, and lecturer known for his oil and watercolor landscapes, woodcuts, as well as medical and surgical drawings. Julius was born December 19, 1876, in Alleghany, PA to German immigrants, August Julius Richter (1828-1902) and Julia (
née Meyer, 1838-1900) Richter. He had seven older siblings to include: Adelheid Ida (
Perry, 1858-1938), Maximilian Allen (1860-1936), Harry (1863-1937), Armin (1865-1917), Otto Moritz (1870-1951), and Edward (1871-1939). Julius was educated in the Buffalo public schools at Buffalo Central High School on Court Street at Niagara Square and the Buffalo College of Commerce located in the Jewett Block on Washington St.
In 1904, he graduated from the University of Buffalo and received his Doctorate of Medicine, working for one year as an intern at the German Deaconess Hospital in Buffalo. He later practiced as a general and orthopedic surgeon at the Post-Graduate Hospital of New York in Manhattan, as well as private instructor to Professor of Operative Surgery John J. McGrath.
From 1916-1966, Dr. Richter practiced medicine for over fifty years while residing at 2556 Main Street in Buffalo, NY, retiring in 1966. During that time, he was also an associate and assistant surgeon, as well as associate professor of anatomy at the University of Buffalo (UB), Department of Hospitals and Dispensaries. In addition, he served on the surgical staff of Buffalo General, Millard Fillmore and Lafayette General Hospitals, as well as on the board of directors for Lafayette, Erie County Medical Society and Buffalo Academy of Medicine. In 1924, Dr. Richter co-founded and was past president, treasurer and secretary of the Buffalo Surgical Society and designed their seal. He was also a member of the Buffalo Medical and Surgical League (founded 1912, past treasurer), and the National Board of Surgery. Other memberships included the American Medical Association and American College of Surgeons, for which he presented numerous lectures on anatomy and surgery. In August, 1916 during WWI, he was appointed first lieutenant in the Army Medical Reserve Corps.
In his spare time Dr. Richter painted as a hobby and studied art with fellow artists John Rummell (American, 1861-1942), Volney A. Richardson (American, 1880-1955), Mildred C. Green (American, 1874-1951) and Emile A. Gruppé (American, 1896-1978), as well as with various New England art colonies. From 1924-34, he lectured about anatomy in art at the Albright Art School, Buffalo, N.Y. He was a member of and exhibited in many annual shows of the Buffalo Society of Artists (BSA) throughout the 1930’s-50’s, winning a Bronze Medal and the $50 Harvey B. Harrison Purchase Prize in 1945 for his oil painting “Rainy Day”. He was a member of showed with the
Buffalo Print Club, specializing in wood cuts and winning ‘Print of the Year’ for 1950. His work was displayed in other local and national shows including the annual exhibitions of the American Physicians Art Association (APAA).
Dr. Richter was married twice; His first marriage in 1905 was to Margaret Chisholm Campbell (1883-1958) and he later married his second wife Elizabeth Thomson Sinclair (c.1881-) on April 1, 1969, while they were both residents of the Presbyterian Homes of Western New York (Buffalo location, 900 Delaware Avenue), where he continued to actively paint and exhibit his work. Dr. Richter died on May 26, 1974 at the age of ninety-seven and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, NY.
Chronology:
1876- December 19, born, to German immigrants August Julius Richter (1828-1902) and Julia (
née Meyer, 1838-1900) Richter in Allegheny, PA, and had seven older siblings to include: Adelheid Ida (
Perry, 1858-1938), Maximilian Allen (1860-1936), Harry (1863-1937), Armin (1865-1917), Otto Moritz (1870-1951), and Edward (1871-1939).
1904- Graduated from the University of Buffalo and received his Doctor of Medicine degree (M.D.).
1905- December 20, Julius married first wife Margaret Chisholm Campbell (1883-1958).
From 1916-1966- Began his general medical practice out of his office and home location at 2556 Main Street, Buffalo, NY.
From 1924-34- He served as lecturer in the Anatomy in Art, Albright Art School, Buffalo, NY.
1954- May 12, Dr. Richter, along with five other Erie County physicians were among the 109 honored by the New York State Medical Society for the completion of fifty years of medical practice, and he received a certificate commemorating his half-century of service.
1958- January 10, Julius’ first wife died, Buffalo, NY.
1969- April 1, married second wife Elizabeth Thomson Sinclair (c.1881-).
1974- May 26, Dr. Richter died, and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, NY.
Exhibited Other: One man shows at the Albright Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY; City Art Museum of St. Louis, MO (now known as Saint Louis Art Museum); Town Club of Buffalo, NY, (1938); Group show “Festival of Art”, Niagara Falls, NY (1967); Two-person show, “Harvest Home Week: Dr. Julius Richter & Donald M. Bell”, sponsored by the Women’s Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Homes of Western New York (Buffalo Location), Buffalo, NY (1966, 1967 & 1968); and group show, “In Plain Site” Landscapes from the Gerald Mead Collection”, Kenan Center, Lockport, NY, June 12-July 1, 2011.
Memberships/Associations: Buffalo Society of Artists (On council and chairman of the medal committee), Buffalo, NY; Buffalo Print Club, Buffalo, NY; Buffalo Medical and Surgical League (Founded 1912, Past treasurer); Co-founded and was past president, treasurer and secretary of the Buffalo Surgical Society (Founded 1924) and even designed their seal, Buffalo, NY; Member of the Buffalo Academy of Medicine, Buffalo, NY; Erie County Medical Association; The American Medical Association; and American Physicians Art Association; Alumni Association of the Medical Department of the University of Buffalo (Past secretary), Buffalo, NY; Associate member on the medical staff of Buffalo General Hospital, Buffalo, NY; On the board of directors and consultant surgeon for Lafayette General Hospital, Buffalo, NY; and a member of the Westminster Church, Buffalo, NY.
Awards/Honors: Bronze Medal and the $50 Harvey B. Harrison Purchase Prize, “50th Annual Exhibition of the Buffalo Society of Artists”, for the painting “Rainy Day”, Hotel Statler, Buffalo, NY, 1945; Print of the Year, Buffalo Print Club, Buffalo, NY, 1950; and on May 12, 1954 Dr. Richter, along with five other Erie County physicians were among the 109 honored by the New York State Medical Society for the completion of fifty years of medical practice, and he received a certificate commemorating his half-century of service.
Collections: Burchfield Penney Art Center, Buffalo, NY; Roswell Park Memorial Institute, for the donated watercolor painting “Cold and Quiet”, Buffalo, NY, 1963.
(Written & compiled by Mark Strong of Meibohm Fine Arts, East Aurora, NY, meibohmfinearts.com, sources: Too long to list and are furnished upon request.)
