Gladys Irene Champney Papers, 1972-1995, n.d.
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Administrative/Biographical History
Gladys Irene Champney, long-time Oberlin resident and local artist, was born 8 August 1896, on a farm in Axtel, Ohio. Her parents were Alnora A. Myers (1874-1960) and Arnold Francis Champney (1871-1940). She had two sisters, Sylvia and Erma, and one brother, Lee. Ms. Champney lived most of her life in Oberlin attending local grammar schools and graduating from Oberlin High School in 1914. She first became interested in art during her high school career and in 1914 she entered Oberlin College where she studied art and English. In her last two years of college Ms. Champney worked as an art assistant; a student evaluating the work of other art students. She graduated from Oberlin College in 1918, with a double degree in English and art.
After graduating from Oberlin Ms. Champney was employed from 1920-1922 in the accounting department at Ohio Bell Telephone Co., in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1922, Ms. Champney was employed as an art teacher for the Cleveland Public Schools. Her first position was at the Hough School, Cleveland, Ohio, from 1922-1923. After a leave of absence in Florida, Ms. Champney returned to Cleveland to teach art at the William H, Brett School. Once again, from 1929-1931, Ms. Champney took a leave of absence in Florida, and returned to Cleveland to teach art at the Gladstone School. After teaching at the Gladstone School from 1931 to 1934, she spent the remainder of her career teaching art to intellectually gifted students in the Cleveland Public Schools. She retired in 1958.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Ms. Champney studied with two contemporary artists of the time, Henry Keller (1869-1949) and Frank Wilcox(1887-1964). After retiring from the Cleveland Public Schools in 1958 to take care of her mother, she went on to teach arts and crafts at Gates Hospital in Elyria for eight years. She worked full-time as an artist and writer. In 1961, Ms. Champney and her sister, Erma May Champney (1899-1972), moved from the family home of 36 Morgan Street in Oberlin to an apartment at 145 Elm Street. Ms. Champney and Erma were together in this apartment until Erma' s death in 1972. Ms. Champney continued to live in this apartment until 1989, when she moved into a nursing home.
Most of the artwork of Ms. Champney was completed at the apartment at 145 Elm Street. Her work ranges from wall hangings assemblages of found parts, paintings and a working fountain that was in her living room.
Mrs. Sylvia Johnson, Ms. Champney's sister, characterized Gladys Champney as a independent person who cared about her family, other people, and the environment. She had friends of all ages and she donated to charitable causes, especially those concerning wildlife. She was an avid journal keeper and letter writer. She was active in her church, the First United Methodist Church of Oberlin; and , for many years she was a member of the congregation over the longest period of time. She made posters, banners and advent wreaths for the church. Ms. Champney never married; her family was her artwork and her cats. In 1989 Ms. Champney had to move from her home at 145 Elm into a nursing home. She died of congestive heart failure and renal failure on 19 December 1991 at Welcome Nursing Home.
Author: Tara Ikenouye Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative InformationGladys Irene Champney's papers were received in the Archives in three accessions: 1994/066, 1994/086, and 1994/096 from Mrs. Sylvia Johnson. A copy of the videotape was made available through the assistance of Kevin Burton. Pat Murphy, director of O.H.I.O., provided a copy of the transcript of the interview with Kristi Hempel.
Gladys Irene Champney's two pieces of artwork, "Three Moons" and "Don Quixote", are in RG 40.
The papers of Gladys Irene Champney document Champney's career as an artist and teacher, as well as her dedication to keeping journals and her relationship with her family, especially her sister, Sylvia Johnson. This collection sheds unscientific light of the process of aging and of the problems of aged people (i.e., how does one use successfully one's time following retirement, especially if you are unmarried and without children). The Correspondence Series contains letters written between Gladys Irene Champney and her sister, Sylvia Johnson. The material concerning her teaching career is contained in the biographical information. The journals and photograph/videotape series illustrate her love of art as well as her interest in documenting her life.
The collection is divided into the following series: 1. Biographical Miscellany, 2. Correspondence, 3. Journals, and 4. Photographs and Videotape.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I. Biographical Miscellany, 1987-1991, 1995 (4 folders)
The biographical material for Gladys Irene Champney includes a genealogical chart of her family, newspaper articles about her life and obituary, and an oral history interview by Kristi Hempel. Also included is a brief biographical sketch of her sister, Sylvia Champney Johnson.
Series II. Correspondence, 1978-1989 (14 folders)
This series consists of letters between Gladys Irene Champney and her sister, Sylvia Johnson, and other family members. The letters are arranged chronologically. In addition, there is a folder of envelopes that contain handwritten notes on the back, and a folder of correspondence received by Sylvia Johnson regarding her donation of Gladys's papers to the Oberlin College Archives.
Series III. Journals, 1972-1989 (23 volumes; 1 folder)
Gladys Irene Champney's journals document both her life and her love of art. The small three-ring binders that hold the pages of her journals are filled with colorful pictures and artwork. The binder covers are decorated with art work and pictures.
The journals are arranged chronologically. Also included in this series is a folder of notes taken by Gladys regarding Venture With Ideas-- Kenneth Walker from December 1979.
Series IV. Photographs and Videotape, 1979, 1989, and n.d.
This series consists of photographs and a single videotape that primarily document Gladys Irene Champney's artwork. The photographs include Gladys Irene Champney, her artwork, cats, friends, and her sister, Sylvia Johnson. Most of the photographs are not dated, but some are labeled Christmas 1979. The videotape documents the opening of Harley-Terra Candella's 1989 art shows at the Stocker Center, Elyria, and the Westervelt Hall, Oberlin. The video also includes footage of Harley's upstairs studio on West College Street.
INVENTORY
Series I. Biographical Miscellany
Box 1
Genealogical Chart for the family of Gladys
Irene Champney
Johnson (Champney), Sylvia, biographical sketch, 1995
Newspaper articles concerning Gladys Irene Champney's life
and obituary, 26 June 1989 - 24 December 1991
Oral History Interview of Gladys Irene Champney by Kristi
Hempel (copy of the transcript), 1987
Series II. Correspondence
Box 1
Letters to Sylvia re: donation of Gladys' papers to
OC Archives, 8 Nov. 1994 - 10 Nov. 1994
Letters to Gladys from Sylvia Johnson (sister) and other
family members, 1969 - 4 Nov. 1991, n.d.
Letters to Sylvia Johnson from Gladys, n.d.,
12 November 1969 - 11 August 1987
Envelopes with notes on the back, 17 July
1978 - 17 July 1987
Box 2
Johnson, Sylvia, 11 February 1988 - 31 July 1989
Series III. Journals
Box 1
Notes by Gladys re: Venture With Ideas--Kenneth
Walker, 1979 December (1f)
Journals 1972-1982 (8v)
Box 2
Journals 1983-1986 (8v)
Box 3
Journals 1987-1989 (7v)
Series IV. Photographs and Videotape
Box 1
Photographs of Gladys Champney, her works, cats,
friends, and Sylvia Johnson (sister),
Christmas 1979, and n.d.
Videotape of the openings of Harley-Terra Candella's
art shows at the Stocker Center, Elyria and the
Westervelt Hall, Oberlin, 1989.