The "The Memory Painters" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Happened to pick up one of the Lancaster County Historical Society publications that I recently purchased at the book sale held at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and began reading a story about Hattie Klapp Brunner who was an antique dealer as well as artist.  

Hattie Brunner

Her artwork reminded me of the style of painting used by Grandma Moses and "Dottie" Woods, my mother who began her painting career in her 70s.  Hattie Brunner was born in nearby Reinholds, East Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on November 27, 1889.  She was one of eight children born into a farm family and began working at the age of seven after her father died.  She took a job caring for an old woman and later was hired on a farm in return for room and board and a salary of $1.00 a month.  When she turned 10 she took a job as a house servant in West Cocalico. She had an intense love of music and graduated from the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and was the church organist at Swamp United Church of Christ in Reinholds from 1912 to 1918.  Eventually she married and she and her husband operated a general store in Reinholds for many years.  

Grandma Moses

She and her husband Raymond also dealt in antiques.  It wasn't until 1957 that Hattie started painting watercolors after being encouraged by her husband's grandson.  It was a Sunday when she presented her grandson with a set of watercolors.  While sketching a farm scene, the seven-year-old had a problem drawing a horse.  Hattie helped him with the drawing and afterward her grandson pleaded, "Now, Grandma, you paint!"  She painted strong, colorful, nostalgic scenes based on memories of her life in Lancaster County.  She worked mostly in her sewing room or kitchen where she painted on a flat surface.  

"Dottie" Woods

She was a prolific painter who completed more than 600 watercolors as well as hundreds of greeting cards before her eyesight began to fail.  Her paintings were what she called "sofa size", 10"x 14" and 17"x25" in size.  She died August 2, 1982 at what at the time was St. Joseph's Hospital in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Hattie Brunner was what was known as a "Memory Painter"; a painter who had no training, was past middle age and experienced a past that was inspiring.  She, Grandma Moses and "Dottie" Woods were all "memory painters" whose style and paintings look very similar.  All three experienced a past that inspired them and whose memories were a storehouse of all they knew about the world.  I realize I may be a bit prejudiced by placing my mother with Hattie Brunner and Grandma Moses, but that's OK, since this is my story.  After viewing some of the work of all three, you too may agree with me.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - The first three paintings were painted by Grandma Moses, the second three paintings were painted by Hattie Brunner and the last three were by "Dottie" Woods.  All three were members of the "Memory Painter" classification.