Portrait of Mary Lane McMillan, c. 1906.
Mary Lane McMillan (1883 - 1976)
Mary Lane McMillan was an American illustrator and fine artist during the early to mid 20th century. She studied at the National Academy of Design in New York from 1902 to 1904 where she won the Suydam Medal for best work in her Antiques class in the 1903 Spring competition and won Honorable Mention in her Illustration class in the 1904 Spring Competition.
According to a biography in the McMillan School of Fine Arts brochure (published 1933), Mary Lane McMillan studied illustration and pictorial composition at the Chicago Art Institute (c. 1905-1906) under Walter Marshall Clute (1870-1915) and studied watercolors and outdoor sketching under Frederick Charles Oswald. She attended Walter Marshall Clute’s private school at his home in Park Ridge, IL, where she studied oil painting including interior, landscape, costume, and plein air techniques. In 1914, many years after she had left Chicago, McMillan was invited to submit a painting titled An Old Spinning Wheel for a watercolor exhibition at the Chicago Art Institute.
McMillan taught art at the Presbyterian College for Women in Milford, TX and was later head of the Art Department at Polytechnic College (now Texas Wesleyan University) in Fort Worth, TX from 1906 to 1912. McMillan began illustrating magazine covers for Holland’s and The Etude in this period.
In 1910, McMillan traveled to Florence to study with William Merritt Chase (1849-1916) at his private villa. From 1910 to 1912, she was a popular exhibitor at the Fort Worth Public Library’s art exhibitions, often displaying artwork inspired by her stay in Italy. She left Texas for New York in 1912 to devote her career to book and magazine illustration. Over one hundred of her illustrations appeared in issues of Life, McCall’s, The Designer, Harper’s Bazaar, Saturday Evening Post, Pictorial Review and The American Magazine, which included various cover features. She even dabbled in the world of commercial illustration by doing a Campbell’s Soup advertisement for tomato soup in 1915.
She was also well known for her Christmas pageants, which she authored and illustrated. Her 1925 Pictorial Review cover was reproduced in Canada in calendar form by the Federation of Churches and eventually had wide circulation as a Christmas greeting card. Her published pageants were well received in the United States as well and were performed in churches throughout the country.
During the 1930s, McMillan ran the McMillan School of Fine Arts in New Rochelle, NY with her husband George McMillan, a piano teacher. The residence-studios at the McMillan School of Fine Arts were established in 1913. Winter sessions were held in New Rochelle and summer sessions were held at The Vacation School in Rome, Maine, a camp located on the shore of Great Pond (Belgrade Lakes). Mary taught sketching and painting to her students outdoors to take advantage of the scenic landscape. To see photos and read more about Mary’s school in Maine please visit the Maine Historical Society’s website (Maine Memory Network) at www.mainememory.net.
During the 1940s to the 1970s, McMillan lived in Marianna, Arkansas; Rome (Belgrade Lakes), Maine; Eustis and Mount Dora, Florida. During the 1940s and 1950s, she created puppet shows and held performances in Marianna and in her summer home in Maine for local children and campers. While in Eustis, FL, she lived with local artist Katherine Stockwell (1895-1983). In 1968, at the age of 85, she stopped painting. In 1973, she moved to Mt. Dora, Florida where she passed in 1976 at the age of 93. Mary Lane McMillan is buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Tuscumbia, AL.
Pictorial Review Christmas cover, 1925.
TIMELINE
Mary Lane McMillan Portrait. Photograph.
1883 (August 28th ): Mary W. Lane born in Tuscumbia, AL [1]
Hometown also of Helen Keller (Helen was 3 years older and attended First Presbyterian Church, baptized in1880 by Rev. James Lane or other minister in his church) [2]
1894 -1899: moved to Aberdeen, Mississippi (Mary age 11-16)
1900: moved to Hillsboro, TX where Mary remained for 2 years (Lane family remained until 1904)
1902: moved to New York (1902 to 1904 address listed as 320 Manhattan Ave., NY [4])
1902 - 1903: Attended Antique & Illustration classes at the National Academy of Design in NY [5]
1903: Awarded the Suydam Bronze Medal for the best work in the antique class in the Spring competition at The National Academy of Design in New York [6]
1903 - 1904: Attended Antique, Illustration, Still-life, and Life classes at the National Academy of Design in NY [7]
1904: won Honorable Mention in Illustration in the spring competition at The National Academy of Design in New York [8]
c. 1904- 1905: studied at the Art Institute of Chicago under Walter Marshall Clute in Illustration Pictorial Compositions: also under Frederick Oswald for watercolor, a studio was set aside for her. [9]
1905: Lanes moved to Marianna, Arkansas (remained until 1914). James G. Lane returned to Tuscumbia from Marianna, AR to deliver sermon at 80th Anniversary of church [10]
1905: Mary attended private school at Walter Marshall Clute’s home. “The Birches” Park Ridge, Illinois; studied oil painting, interiors, landscapes, costumes figures in direct sunlight, outdoor sketching. [11]
c.1905: Taught at Presbyterian College for Women Milford, TX with George McMillan [12]
1906 - 1912: headed the Art Department for 6 years in Polytechnic College (now Texas Wesleyan University) in Fort Worth, TX [13]
1906 - 1912: Member of Ft. Worth Art Association
1910 -1912: popular exhibitor at Fort Worth Carnegie Public Library [14]
1910 (April 26- May 10): 1st Annual Exhibition at the Carnegie Public Library, Ft Worth, TX. Exhibited the following 5 works: The Pond (oil); Among the Hollyhocks (oil); An Interior (oil); Green Gate (oil); The Spinning Wheel [15, 16]
1910 (summer): went to Florence, Italy with William Meritt Chase (1909 - 1911: William Merritt Chase teaching in Florence, Italy; 1913: teaching in Venice, Italy; Villa Silli) [17, 18]
1911: Texas (Waco) Cotton Palace Art Association Exhibition; Won 1st
1911 (Feb.): Premium and Silver Medal for “Finest collection of oil paintings” [19]
1911 (April 25 - May 29)- 2nd Annual Exhibition at the Carnegie Public Library, Ft Worth, TX. Exhibition highlighted Texas scenes/themes. Exhibited the following 9 works: An Italian Garden (oil); Corner in Garden of Mr. William Chase, Florence (watercolor); Florence from Boboli Gardens (oil); Monastery,
Fiesole (watercolor); Ponte Vecchio, Florence Italy (oil); Night of the Thames (watercolor); San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice (oil); Still life (watercolor); Still Life (watercolor); The River Arno, Florence (oil) [20]
1911 (Dec. 9 – Dec. 23): Carnegie Public Library, Ft. Worth, TX. Original Oils and Watercolors Complimentary Exhibit (3 woman show with Mrs. H.O. Legerwood, Miss Margaret Littlejohn, and Mary Lane McMillan/Mrs. George L. McMillan). Exhibited the following works in oil or watercolor: An Italian Garden (oil), Florence Italy; Florence from Boboli Gardens (oil); Ponte Vecchio, Florence; San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice (oil); Old Florentine Palace; Peacock Feathers; Reflections; A Summer Day (oil); The Tower of the Palazzo Vecchio, Florence; An Italian Villa (oil), Florence; Santa Croce, Florence (oil); Old Stone Church; By the Currant Bush (oil); Portrait Study; Posing; Virginia; Girl with Fan (watercolor); Old Spinning Wheel; Still Life; Still Life; Still Life; The Copper Water Pot; Study of Grapes; Still Life; Interior; Sketches- Monastery of San Marco, Florence Italy; Sketch of Florentine Palace; A Parisian Court; Portrait Sketch; Portrait Sketch; Memory Sketches- An Italian Donkey Cart; A Street Sweeper of Florence; Florentine Venders; Two Old Women; Burden Bearers; Peasant Girl. [21]
1912 (May 2- May 30): 3rd Annual Exhibition at the Fort Worth Museum of Art, Carnegie
1912: Public Library exhibited the following 7 works in oil: A Summer Day (oil); An Italian Garden (oil); An Italian Villa (oil); By the Currant Bush (oil); Florence from the Boboli Gardens (oil); San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice; Santa Croce, Florence (oil) [22]
1912 (May): Polytechnic College Exhibition of Student Work in color and drawing; Miss Nina Hutton was her student assistant [23]
1912 (June): left Ft. Worth, TX [24]
c. 1912 (July): Began career in New York illustrating books and stories
1914: Submitted “An Old Spinning Wheel” for Watercolor exhibit at the Art Institute
1915: James Lane infirm and moves in with Mary in New Rochelle for 5 years
1922: Since this year (at least through 1933): Mary vacationed and painted at the garden of “The Afterglow” McMillan camp in Maine; (age 39) [27]
Pre-1928: Women’s Home Companion - “The Old, Old Story” for Christmas issue. Also on cover of Christmas issue of Pictorial Review and was reproduced in Canada in calendar form by the Federation of Churches. It eventually had wide circulation as a Christmas greeting card (c. 1931-1932); all three pageants were in demand around the US for Christmas festivals
c. 1931: Suffered painful illness [29]
1933: She and George established the summer school at Belgrade Lakes (1933 pamphlet published for Winter session, Oct. – May, in New Rochelle, New York; Art summer session, June - Sept., in Belgrade Lakes, Maine near Rome) [30]
c. 1942 - 1946: Lived in Marianna, Arkansas at 361 Hillcrest St. with her aunt Mrs. Addie (Whitman) Mitchell and cousin John Whitman Mitchell (son of Addie). Addie was Mary’s mother’s sister. [32]
1944 (January): The Courier-Index of Marianna, AR: “Mary Lane McMillan entertained the students of her art class and members of the Marianna Fine Arts Assoc. with a Twelfth Night celebration at the home of Mrs. J.W. Mitchell. Mrs. McMillan has made a study on puppetry and for a number of years put on puppet shows in her home in New Rochelle, NY.” [33]
1956: living in Eustis, FL and visiting summer home in Rome, Maine; created puppet shows for children; (age 72) [34]
c. 1968: Stopped painting (age 85) [35]
1973: Moved from Eustis, FL to Mt. Dora, FL; (age 90) [36]
1974 - 1976: Living in Mt. Dora- Eudora Apartments (age 91) [37]
1976: (October 15)- Died age 93 [38]
CITED
[1] According to hand written letter by MaLo Hampy daughter of Catherine Stockwell listing dates given by Harden Pauli Funeral Home in Eustis, FL
[2] According to A Brief History of First Presbyterian Church 180th Anniversary pamphlet
[4] Archive, National Academy of Design, New York
[5] Archive, National Academy of Design, New York
[6] Archive, National Academy of Design, New York
[7] Archive, National Academy of Design, New York
[8] Archive, National Academy of Design, New York
[9] Listed in McMillan School of Fine Arts bio; unable to confirm in AIC archives- no information found by archivist Bart Ryckbosch, 4 /2002
[10] 10/29/2004- Gary Hollingsworth talked to Ronnie Hudson, member of First Presbyterian Church, Tuscumbia, 605 East 5th St. Tuscumbia, AL 35674, ph. 256-381-2249
[11] Listed in McMillan School of Fine Arts bio; unable to confirm in AIC archives- no information found by archivist Bart Ryckbosch, 4 /2002
[12] An article dated 1/16/1915 in Fort Worth Star Telegram makes reference to McMillan being in Milford prior to Ft. Worth; Presbyterian College for Women (college existed from 1902-1929); Austin College archive unable to confirm Mary Lane McMillan at school, George McMillan is documented in records.
[13] Listed in McMillan School of Fine Arts bio and confirmed by Louis Sherwood, University Archivist at Texas Wesleyan University in email communication on 4/22/03; Polytechnic College (founded in 1890, opened in Sept. 1891-1914); then became Texas Woman’s College (1914-1935); then became Texas Wesleyan College (1935- 1988); then became Texas Wesleyan University (1988- present). Information from online Dallas Public Library Catalog .
[14] Ft. Worth Public Library records researched by Scott Grant Barker, VP of Tarrant County Historical Society in 2001
[15] The Fort Worth Museum of Art Special Exhibition Catalogue, Exhibition by Dallas and Fort Worth Artists, Vol. 1, 1910
[16] AIC archives listing found by archivist Bart Ryckbosch, 4 /2002
[17] Listed in McMillan School of Fine Arts bio
[18] Dates listed in American Impressionism by William H. Gerdts, Abbeville Press, 1984; Villa Silli mentioned in Fort Worth Record article quoted in 1933 McMillan brochure
[19] biographical listing in Carnegie Public Library, Ft. Worth, TX. Original Oils and Watercolors Complimentary Exhibit catalogue, Dec. 9th to 23rd, 1911; Fort Worth Star Telegram, December 6, 1911 article;
[20] The Fort Worth Museum of Art Special Exhibition Catalogue, The Second Annual Exhibition of Selected Paintings by Texas Artists at the Carnegie Public Library, April 25-May 29, 1911, Series 1911, No. 1
[21] Carnegie Public Library, Ft. Worth, TX. Original Oils and Watercolors Complimentary Exhibit catalogue, Dec. 9th to 23rd, 1911
[22] The Fort Worth Museum of Art Special Exhibition Catalogue, The Third Annual Exhibition of Selected Paintings by Texas Artists, Series 1912, No. 2
[23] Fort Worth Star Telegram, May 28, 1912, pg 14
[24] Fort Worth Star Telegram, May 28, 1912, pg 14
[27] 1933 McMillan School of Fine Arts brochure
[29] Morning Sentinel article by Milt Huntington, (Maine), 8-29-1956
[30] 1933 McMillan School of Fine Arts brochure
[32] According to family history accounted by Nelda Mitchell Reed, interview in 2005
[33] The Courier-Index, Marianna, AR, January ? 1944; need to acquire copy of full article
[34] Morning Sentinel article by Milt Huntington, (Maine), 8-29-1956
[35] Mt. Dora Topic article, September 1974?
[36] Mt. Dora Topic article, September 1974?
[37] Mt. Dora Topic article, September 1974?
[38] According to hand written letter by MoLo Hampy, daughter of Catherine Stockwell listing dates given by Harden Pauli Funeral Home in Eustis, FL