Nina Evangeline Lumbard (August 14, 1876 – December 4, 1972) was an American ceramic painter, illustrator, and teacher who worked in Fremont and Omaha, Nebraska, during the late nineteenth century.[1] During her brief career, she exhibited at the Chicago World's Fair and Trans-Mississippi Exposition, taught at the Omaha Art Institute, and illustrated a multitude of local publications.
Nina Lumbard | |
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| Born | August 14, 1876 |
| Died | December 4, 1972 |
| Resting place | Mount Auburn Cemetery in Auburn, Maine |
| Known for | China painting |
| Spouses |
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Early life
editNina was born on August 14, 1876, in Fremont, Nebraska, to Dwight and Mary Lumbard, a banker and housewife. Nina had three brothers, the youngest of whom was shot and killed by a friend while hunting ducks.[2]
The Lumbard family was active in the Fremont community and practicing members of the local Methodist church. Nina's mother, in particular, was very involved with a number of Fremont's women's clubs where she practiced music, painting, and needlework.[3] Like her mother, Nina was also a member of a myriad of clubs and participated in local fairs, winning awards for her fruit preserves, pickles, and paintings in ceramic, oil, and watercolor.[4][5]
Artistic career
edit
In 1893, at sixteen years of age, Nina exhibited four painted ceramics at the Chicago World's Fair. Two of her porcelain paintings, one of Psyche and the other of the Madonna and Child, were displayed on the wall of the ladies' parlor in the Nebraska building, a room decorated by women artists from the state.[6] With the Nebraska Ceramic Club, she displayed two additional ceramic works in the Woman's Building as part of an exhibition of various organizations headed by women in the United States.[7][1]
Over the next few years, Nina exhibited regularly on her own and with the Nebraska Ceramic Club.[8] She also offered private instruction in ceramic painting and gave lectures on the topic at various local women's clubs.[9] During the winters, she traveled to New York, where she undertook art and design lessons, in addition to occasionally traveling to Europe for the same purpose.[10][11]
In 1898, Nina Lumbard, then well-known in the Omaha area, was called upon to assist in designing the Nebraska building for the Trans-Mississippi Exposition.[12] Within the building, two of her works were displayed.[13]
The following year, Nina opened a studio in the new Omaha Art Institute, housed within A. Hospe's music and art store, where she served as an art instructor.[14] In addition to teaching ceramic painting, Nina, who had recently started illustrating local publications, taught courses on drawing and design.[15][16]
Personal life
editOn January 1, 1903, Nina married Ralph Lunn, a shoe salesman for the Auburn-Lynn Shoe Manufacturing Company. Following their honeymoon, the couple moved to Auburn, Maine, where the company headquarters were located.[17] Nina and Ralph had two children. At the age of 36, Ralph passed away on March 24, 1916.[18] Tragedy soon struck again in August 1917, when Nina's father died while in her care.[19]
Shortly after her father's death, on November 1, 1917, Nina married Wallace H. White, the incoming Republican congressman for the second district of Maine.[20] Throughout his three-decade-long career, Nina took on the duties of a political wife and was affectionately referred to as "Madame Senator."[21] After Wallace retired in 1949 and his health began to deteriorate, Nina took care of him until he passed away on March 31, 1952.[22][23]
Death
editOn December 4, 1972, Nina died at age 97 in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she was residing at the time.[24]
References
edit- ^ a b Anonymous (April 15, 1893). "A Fremont Artist". Fremont Tri-Weekly Tribune. Fremont, Nebraska. p. 3.
- ^ Anonymous (November 5, 1908). "Accidentally Killed by Companion with Shotgun: Edgar Lumbard Comes to Sad End from Weapon in Hands of Chum and Play Mate". Fremont Daily Herald. Fremont, Nebraska. pp. 1, 5.
- ^ Anonymous (May 13, 1942). "Mrs. Mary G. Lumbard: Mother of Shoe Mfgr. And of Mrs. Wallace White Dies". Sun-Journal. Lewiston, Maine. p. 9.
- ^ Anonymous (October 7, 1890). "Prize Winners: List of Premiums Awarded at the Late Fair". Fremont Tribune. Fremont, Nebraska. p. 3.
- ^ Anonymous (October 1, 1892). "Fair Premiums". Fremont Tri-Weekly Tribune. Fremont, Nebraska. p. 4.
- ^ Anonymous (July 1, 1893). "Nebraska Art at the Fair". Sioux City Journal. Sioux City, Iowa. p. 2.
- ^ Anonymous (April 16, 1893). "Worked by Women: Products of Feminine Hands Sent to the Fair". Chicago Daily Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. p. 25. ProQuest 174801810.
- ^ Anonymous (December 15, 1895). "Art Notes". New York Times. New York, New York. p. 32. ProQuest 95316946.
- ^ Anonymous (March 17, 1900). "Beatrice Brevities". Beatrice Daily Express. Beatrice, Nebraska. p. 3.
- ^ Anonymous (April 13, 1902). "Woman's Club". Fremont Daily Herald. Fremont, Nebraska. p. 4.
- ^ Anonymous (October 7, 1898). "Purely Personal". Fremont Semi-Weekly Herald. Fremont, Nebraska. p. 4.
- ^ Anonymous (March 12, 1898). "In the Social Realm". Salt Lake Herald. Salt Lake City, Utah. p. 8.
- ^ Anonymous (July 20, 1898). "Trouble on the Midway: Performers Arrested for Contempt of Scotts Orders". Lincoln Evening News. Lincoln, Nebraska. p. 7.
- ^ Anonymous (April 30, 1899). "Hospe's Grand Opening". The Omaha Daily Bee. Omaha, Nebraska. p. 24.
- ^ Anonymous (November 28, 1899). "Today's Personal". Fremont Tri-Weekly Tribune. Fremont, Nebraska. p. 4.
- ^ Rothery, Albert (1899). "Art Notes". Omaha World-Herald. Omaha, Nebraska. p. 12.
- ^ Anonymous (January 3, 1903). "The Lumbard-Lunn Nuptials". Fremont Tribune. Fremont, Nebraska. p. 5.
- ^ Anonymous (March 25, 1916). "Death of R.M. Lunn Shock to Community". Lewiston Evening Journal. Lewiston, Maine. p. 24.
- ^ Anonymous (August 13, 1917). "Dwight A. Lumbard: Retired Banker Dies at Home of Daughter in Auburn". The Lewiston Daily Sun. Lewiston, Maine. p. 1.
- ^ Anonymous (November 2, 1917). "Our Congressman Weds Auburn Lady in Simple Manner". The Bath Daily Times. Bath, Maine. p. 5.
- ^ Stephenson, Malvina (March 13, 1947). "American Women Are Getting Better Looking All the TIme". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 21.
- ^ "U.S. Senate: Senate Leaders". www.senate.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ Dexter, Daniel S. (March 31, 1952). "Former Sen. White Dies Early Today In Auburn Home". Lewiston Evening Journal. Lewiston, Maine. pp. 1–2.
- ^ Anonymous (December 7, 1972). "Mrs. Nina L. White: Widow of Former Congressman White Dies at Age 97". Lewiston Evening Journal. Lewiston, Maine. p. 2.