For the first time in our island community, the Frank J. Pratt Jr. private collection of historical paintings, sketches, photography, poems, creative writing and related correspondence will be available for public viewing. Close facsimiles of original art, spanning the years 1917 to 1939, will be displayed for the month of December at the Coupeville Library.

In an evening presentation, Lee James of Coupeville will describe how the exhibit came to be, what it consists of, and the significance of the art.

The presentation is at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 7 at the Coupeville Library. The presentation will allow for lots of questions and answers and input from the community about a possible later exhibit of the original art.

Frank and Lena Pratt are historically important in Central Whidbey for their patronage of landscape artists, and for their careful stewardship of historically significant lands and structures.

From the “hilltop” area overlooking Ebey’s Prairie, the Pratts set the stage, privately, for what the public would do later on a larger scale: creation of the Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve.

The Pratts personally knew and collected the work of prominent regional and international artists and writers.

The exhibit emphasizes the extensive correspondence and exchange of art with James Norman Hall, co-author of “Mutiny on the Bounty.” Hall’s letters and parcels came to Pratt via steamer from Tahiti.

Support for this exhibit is provided by the Island County Historical Society, the present owner of the Pratt family’s hilltop home and Sno-Isle Libraries.