In the summer of 1907, the first artists were invited: Helen Mears, a sculptor, and her sister Mary Mears (1876-1943), a writer. The latter published an article about the colony in the July 1909 issue of The Craftsman, which gave it much needed publicity. The MacDowell Colony started to receive support from benefactors, such as Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge.
In the summer of 1907, Helen Mears, a sculptor, and her sister Mary Mears (1876-1943), a writer, were invited to the MacDowell Colony. The latter published an article about the colony in the July 1909 issue of The Craftsman, which brought it much needed publicity.  The colony began receiving support from benefactors like Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge.