Almyra B. "Myra" Spafard (March 24, 1864 – March 13, 1940) was an American artist. Her watercolor paintings of flowers were exhibited in American cities, mainly in the 1890s and 1900s.

Early life and education

Spafard was born in

Manchester, Michigan Manchester is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,037 at the 2020 census. The city is located within Manchester Township. Settled as early as 1833, Manchester incorporated as a village in 1867. On N ...

, the daughter of Thomas Franklin (Frank) Spafard and Sarah Maria Carpenter Spafard. She attended

Cooper Union The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly known as Cooper Union, is a private college on Cooper Square in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Peter Cooper founded the institution in 1859 after learning about the government-s ...

in the 1880s, and earned a bachelor's degree in education from

Teachers College, Columbia University Teachers College, Columbia University (TC) is the graduate school of education affiliated with Columbia University, a private research university in New York City. Founded in 1887, Teachers College has been a part of Columbia University since ...

in 1892, She also studied at the

Art Students' League The Art Students League of New York is an art school in the American Fine Arts Society in Manhattan, New York City. The Arts Students League is known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists. Although artists may study fu ...

and the Chase Art School. Her aunt, Emily Maria Scott, and Henry B. Snell were among her teachers.

Career

Like her aunt and mentor E. M. Scott, Spafard was known for her botanical paintings. Her work was included in exhibitions at the

National Academy of Design The National Academy of Design is an honorary association of American artists, founded in New York City in 1825 by Samuel Morse, Asher Durand, Thomas Cole, Frederick Styles Agate, Martin E. Thompson, Charles Cushing Wright, Ithiel Town, an ...

in 1888, the

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is a museum and private art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1805, it is the longest continuously operating art museum and art school in the United States. The academy's museum ...

in 1896, the American Water-Color Society in 1901 and 1903, the

Boston Art Club The Boston Art Club is an arts organization in Boston, Massachusetts, which serves to help its members, as well as non-members, to access the world of fine art. It currently has more than 250 members. History The Boston Art Club was first conceive ...

in 1902 and 1903, the

Louisiana Purchase Exposition The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the St. Louis World's Fair, was an World's fair, international exposition held in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States, from April 30 to December 1, 1904. Local, state, and federa ...

in St. Louis in 1904, the St. Paul School of Fine Arts in 1905, the

Art Institute of Chicago The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. The museum is based in the Art Institute of Chicago Building in Chicago's Grant Park (Chicago), Grant Park. Its collection, stewa ...

in 1907, and the Philadelphia Water Color Exhibition, also in 1904. Later in life, she taught art at Southeastern High School in Detroit.

Personal life and legacy

Spafard died in 1940, in

Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the List of municipalities in Michigan, fifth-most populous cit ...

, at the age of 75. Her work is in the collection of

Middlebury College Middlebury College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Middlebury, Vermont, United States. Founded in 1800 by Congregationalism in the United States, Congregationalists, Middlebury w ...

Museum of Art.

References

External links

Myra Spafard at askART
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spafard, Myra B. 1864 births 1940 deaths American women artists Art Students League of New York alumni American watercolorists People from Manchester, Michigan