Martha W. Longenecker

Martha Longenecker (May 18, 1920 – October 29, 2013) was an American artist, professor of art, and founder of the Mingei International Museum in San Diego, California.

Early life On May 18, 1920, Longenecker was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. At 9 month old, Longenecker arrived in California by train. Longenecker grew up in Monterey Park, California, and Pasadena, California.

Longenecker made her first visit to Japan in 1952. There she expanded her knowledge of the Japanese arts and crafts movement called "mingei". Longenecker undertook postgraduate research in Japan, where she studied from Shoji Hamada (1894–1978) and Tatsuzo Shimaoka (1919–2007).

In 1974, with the financial support from her husband, Longenecker incorporated Mingei as a nonprofit organization. Longenecker oversaw the development of the first Mingei museum, which opened in May 1978 at University Town Centre in San Diego. In 1978, Longenecker became the museum director.

In October 2013, Longenecker established Mingei Legacy Resources Foundation. 2011 Inducted into the San Diego Women's Hall of Fame.

Personal life Longenecker's first husband was John Longenecker. Longenecker's second husband was Sydney Martin Roth. Longenecker had two children. Longenecker lived in La Jolla community of San Diego, California.

Following a stroke, on October 29, 2013, Longenecker died at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, San Diego, California. She was 93 years old.

Legacy 1998 Martha W. Longenecker Director's Chair Endowment Fund.