See the Enduring Influence Of Mildred Barker Brown On Anamosa’s Cultural Landscape

I have learned quite a bit in the last few days about Grant Wood's first school and the adjacent building that was not part of the original school.  The newer building, seen below, is an art gallery built by Mildred Barker-Brown and her then-husband Dr Jerry Brown.

Mildred Brown, born on October 8, 1922, in Anamosa, was the daughter of DeWitt and Ina Byerly Meeks. A 1940 graduate of Anamosa High School, she married Clyde S. Barker in March 1945, who passed away in April 1958. In March 1961, Mildred married Dr. Gerald F. Brown, who died in October 1986.

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Mildred's career included working for Mayor Earl Pulver and at Mae Amilia Gift Shop in Anamosa before spending 22 years as an accountant at the Anamosa Creamery Co. She was also a talented amateur artist and a charter member of the Paint n Palette Club, founded in 1955. With Dr. Brown, the club established an Art Gallery on the grounds adjoining the Antioch School, Grant Wood’s first school from 1897 to 1901. Mildred provided art lessons to many local artists and sold over 500 paintings across the U.S., Mexico, and Japan.

A dedicated member of the Anamosa Historical Society since 1972, Mildred was passionate about preserving Anamosa’s history. Encouraged by her friend Nan Wood Graham, she helped create the Grant Wood/Nan Wood Museum, now known as the Memory Lane Galleria, located at 117 E. Main Street in Anamosa. Influenced by friends Edwin Bruns and Marvin Cone, Mildred also taught oil painting to about 300 to 400 beginner artists.