Wilhelmina Seegmiller

Wilhelmina Seegmiller (December 6, 1866 – May 24, 1913) was a Canadian-born American author, illustrator, and art teacher, recognized as an international education leader. She served as Director of Art Education in the public schools of Indianapolis, Indiana. She was credited for placing the art work in the public schools of Indianapolis on an equal level with any in the United States. Her work was such as to attract attention through the country. Walter Sargent, head of the art department of the University of Chicago, noted that Seegmiller's methods directly affected the lives of thousands of people.

Biography Wilhelmina Seegmiller was born at Fairview, Canada West on December 6, 1866.

She received her early training in the Goderich, Ontario, schools; later she studied in Toronto.

In 1884, she moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she passed the teachers’ examination, and at the age of eighteen, was appointed a teacher in the primary grade at the Wealthy Avenue school, where she gave such efficient service that later she was appointed principal of the school. During the time she was teaching, she was studying art. Her work attracted the attention of educators, and she was appointed in 1888, Supervisor of Drawing in the public schools at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, a position she held until 1892.

In 1893, she entered Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York City, studying normal art, and immediately after her graduation, went to Europe for a short period, and then came to Indianapolis in the year 1895 as director of art instruction in the public schools, which position she held until her death in 1913.

In her time, she was the foremost teacher of art for children in the U.S. Her influence spread to Europe through her published work. Her work in the schools of Indianapolis was in a certain sense revolutionary. She introduced into the drawing work of children formerly a mere matter of uninteresting line drawing, the use of color. Under her inspiration, the children were led to attempt to make their crude sketches beautiful, as well as expressive. In this kind of work, Seegmiller was a pioneer.

Selected works Suggestions in hand work, 1904 Primary hand work : a graded course for the first four years, 1906 A hand clasp, 1911 The Applied Arts Drawing Books Little Rhymes for Little Readers, 1910 Other Rhymes for Little Readers Sing a Song of Seasons, c. 1914

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