The donor states that her father, Henry DeLoof, attended these courses. She believes they may have been given by or at the YMCA. A note in the Grand Rapids Furniture Record, February 1909, states that this was essentially a mail order method of instruction and that, “besides the mail order students, Mr. Kirkpatrick has large classes in personal attendance.” Ms. DeLoof has stated that her father also later acted as an apprentice for an independent design studio.

No master list of the lesson sheets is available, but probably this is not a complete set. There appear to be different series for different types of lessons, such as style or geometry, or perspective. The sheet for no. 12, lesson in ornament, has fuller identification than most, including A. Kirkpatrick instructor and designer, and the school address at 544-545 Houseman Building.