Mildred W. Pelzer

Mildred W. Pelzer
1950 photograph of Pelzer by Hironaka
Born	Mildred Lenore Weenink (1889-10-09)October 9, 1889 Auburn, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin
Died	April 24, 1985(1985-04-24) (aged 95) Orlando, Florida
Nationality	American
Other names	Mildred Pelzer Lynch
Occupation	artist, art instructor
Years active	1912-1969

Mildred W. Pelzer (October 9, 1889–April 1985) was an American art teacher, artist and muralist known for her work in public spaces. In addition to the mural for the post office mural project in Waverly, Iowa, she completed eight murals for the Hotel Jefferson, of Iowa City and a mural for the lobby of the Press-Citizen. In addition to her mural work, Pelzer was known for portraits, floral works and landscapes.

Mildred Lenore Weenink was born on October 9, 1889 in Auburn, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin to Eudora D. (née Thompson) and Henry D. Weenink. By the time she was two years old, her family had moved to Dillon, Montana, where she completed her schooling, graduating from the Montana State Normal School in 1909. Immediately upon her graduation, Weenink applied and was accepted to begin studies at the Pratt Institute, where she entered the following year. After two years of study at Pratt, Weenink graduated in 1912.

Upon completing her schooling, Weenink was hired to teach at the Montana School for the Deaf, Blind, and Backward Children, in Boulder, Montana, but left after one term. Continuing her studies, Weenink attended Columbia University. From 1915 to 1916, Weenink taught in the public schools in Bedford, Indiana, before going to serve as director of the art department at the Dakota State Normal School in Madison, South Dakota. On January 1, 1917, in Dillon, Weenink married fellow teacher, Louis Pelzer, and they made their home in Iowa City, where Louis was teaching history at the University of Iowa.