Written by her friend and fellow porcelain artist; Sandra L. Harmon
We lost our beloved Dorothy in 2012. Rather than writing an obituary, I’m using a mini biographical article I wrote for her back in 2002, which has input directly from Dorothy. It may be more than is usually in an obituary, but Dorothy would like that it can show other “want to be” painters, that nothing is impossible if you really want to do it. I might also add, that a teacher teaches, but most importantly, they never stop learning. Share everything that you learn, and it will come back to you tenfold.
Please meet our fearless leader...The California Association of Porcelain Artists, Inc., was founded by Dorothy Todd in 1978. Twenty four years later, she is still teaching, and supporting CAPA in many ways...... But let's start a bit farther back to see where these "sparks" came from.
Dorothy Todd was born in Wyoming and educated at Eastern Montana State College in Billings, Montana. Her original vocation was to teach history. During World War II, Dorothy trained for the Women's Auxiliary Service Pilots (WASPS) in Sweetwater, Texas. Following that, she became a Counselaire with Western Airlines, training personnel in the Rocky Mountain Area and California.
Eventually, Dorothy was transferred to San Francisco. This was during the formation of the United Nations and an exciting time meeting all the people, President Harry S. Truman, General Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, General Douglas MacArthur, along with movie stars who came there to be seen. This is where Dorothy met her husband to be and they were married a year later.
Dorothy and her husband Lew were transferred around from San Francisco, to New York, back to San Francisco, to Seattle, then back to San Francisco to stay. With no children yet, Dorothy took classes in Oils, Acrylics and Ceramics. In school, she did water colors, charcoal and oils, but never had her inside cravings satisfied. While in Seattle she did substitute teaching and became active in Girl Scouts and was a leader for 17 years. When her own daughters troop was old enough, after earning the money themselves, she took the troop to the International House at Cuernavaca where they taught crafts to the 4th - 6th graders. They toured that part of Mexico as well as the area around Mexico City.
After that she worked with the adults, setting up competitions for girls throughout the US. They competed for two-week tours of various types; from working with handicapped children to mapping a new area in Wyoming purchased by the organization. One in which she was particularly involved, called Camp Cable Car, was a trip to San Francisco, learning Chinese cooking and other activities available in this area.
As Dorothy notes: "No matter where we were transferred, I tried to find a teacher in Porcelain Art. The other forms left me with a craving - something was not satisfying me. Porcelain Art is like eating peanuts... once you start, you can't stop! I finally found the art that filled my hunger. Met teacher Gladys Beesley in 1967. My name was drawn for a scholarship to Helen Humes School in Santa Barbara and I continued to attend it thereafter."
Dorothy and Audrey Schwab took lessons for a while from Gladys Beesley who taught in Menlo Park and Redwood City, then read about Elizabeth Uttinger in San Francisco. She got a class together to drive up once a month to take lessons from her. Then they found Vera Ogilvie. She went to night classes and almost fell asleep, tired from taking care of small children during the day. She promised Vera she could fill a class if she would start one in the morning and she did and was a wonderful teacher!!!! Vera then had to move to Santa Cruz and when the weather was too bad for traveling back over the hill, she asked Dorothy to take over the class. So, Dorothy took over her class, then a friend talked her into teaching a class at Little House in Menlo Park. This was before Prop. 13, when classes were $3.75 a semester, so every one took classes. At that point Dorothy had a day class and a night class in Cupertino and a morning and afternoon class in Menlo Park, so she started taking Saturday courses to teach in California and needless to say, attended porcelain schools in order to keep ahead for her students!!!
Dorothy attended Jean Sadler's school in Santa Maria. At the same time she was attending Saturday classes to get a lifetime teaching credential for the State of California for Adult Education.
She was chosen CAPA's artist of the year in 1987.
As of 1998, she was active for 38 years in a San Francisco Peninsula sorority group, Chapter for Beta Sigma Phi. They provided housing and care for runaways who must attend high school or be working during the day. Obtained funding for research for Lupus, Scleroderma and Stanford Kidney Research.
Active in San Francisco's Grace Cathedral Church including working on needlepoint kneeling cushions for their 200th Anniversary celebration.
She and her husband have three children, two girls and a boy. Her community honored her for the endeavors she has made for its schools, her church and the children of the area.
Dorothy was instrumental in helping organize and was the first president of the Peninsula China Painters. Because of her ability she was asked to assist in establishing CAPA - California Association of Porcelain Artists, and was its first President. Previously, Dorothy was President-Elect and President of the California branch of the World Federation of China Painters.
Porcelain painters in the San Francisco-Bay Area owe Dorothy a great debt. At one time she taught 80 students a week. Her influence and enthusiasm, her willingness to share her knowledge, has contributed to the progression of porcelain art.
Her seminars have taken her to most states and to Guatemala and Australia. Dorothy prefers painting portraits, animals and birds because she likes to paint pieces which "talk back".
From Dorothy: "I feel very fortunate with my life. For a gal that started out with nothing in the depression and the dust bowl, my life has held many opportunities and I hope I've taken advantage of all of them. My biggest advantage was a mother who said you can do anything you want to do... if you just make up your mind to do it. I've tried everything.. even to singing in opera. My ancestors were explorers from the 12th century so it's in my blood to try everything. It's what keeps me young!!!!" ..."You add 10 years to my life and I've lived thru the entire history of flight.. from the Wright Brothers to space exploration, but the most exciting thing to me was the discovery of the Salk Vaccine." ..... "I can only give thanks for all the wonderful things that have happened to me. I can go any place on this planet and find a friend. May not know them now but all you have to do is find a china painter and... I've had marvelous teachers. Helen Humes, Sonie Ames, Jean Sadler, Hilda Palmer, Kay Godshalk, Janet Blackwell, Carlos Spina, Fannie Lee Sartain, Dina Fazio and many others whose demos I watched. That's why CAPA was formed...to bring teachers into the state that clubs could not afford to pay their transportation. I think we've done a good job!" ..." I've had a marvelous life with all sorts of opportunities! And there is still much I want to do!!!"
Dorothy currently resides in the Gardnerville area and belongs to the local "Nevada" group. She helped June Costain start this group after CAPA was formed when she requested the Nevada group be part of CAPA. Dorothy still remains an associated member of the Peninsula group.
She has also joined a local chapter of her sorority who donate money for children on the Make a Wish Foundation; this year sending a terminally ill high school youngster to Alaska. She also helps rescuing springer spaniels.
Additional note from the editor: I would like to point out here, after trying many art forms myself and a ten year search to find porcelain artists, I finally found them at the Santa Clara County Fair. That day, my life changed forever. I still keep my Union bag with notes from a kind Harvolene Hebert from SCVPA. Just like Dorothy, "I found the art that filled my hunger." How many other CAPA members have been affected in this way, by this art form? We all share a direct link back to Dorothy.
Think of the lives that Dorothy Todd has touched, with her thirst for knowledge and her ability of teaching and sharing and a caring kindness that continues to this day. The snowball affect. Now, each one of us, shares with another.. and they share with another.. and another...
Thank you, Dorothy, from the bottom of our hearts. Whenever we think we don't have time to share or care for others, we'll think of our "fearless leader" and about the possibility of never having this joy had you not "taken the time" to share or care for us. Bless you, Dorothy, our dear friend and founder.
Onward with those scholarships !!!!
Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950
Name: Dorothy Strawn
Gender: Female
Age: 23
Birth Date: 1923
Marriage Date: 29 Jul 1946
Marriage Place: Yellowstone County, , Montana
Father: William Howard Strawn
Mother: Grace Miles
Spouse: Lewis Allen Jr. Todd
FHL Film Number: 1943770
We lost our beloved Dorothy in 2012. Rather than writing an obituary, I’m using a mini biographical article I wrote for her back in 2002, which has input directly from Dorothy. It may be more than is usually in an obituary, but Dorothy would like that it can show other “want to be” painters, that nothing is impossible if you really want to do it. I might also add, that a teacher teaches, but most importantly, they never stop learning. Share everything that you learn, and it will come back to you tenfold.
Please meet our fearless leader...The California Association of Porcelain Artists, Inc., was founded by Dorothy Todd in 1978. Twenty four years later, she is still teaching, and supporting CAPA in many ways...... But let's start a bit farther back to see where these "sparks" came from.
Dorothy Todd was born in Wyoming and educated at Eastern Montana State College in Billings, Montana. Her original vocation was to teach history. During World War II, Dorothy trained for the Women's Auxiliary Service Pilots (WASPS) in Sweetwater, Texas. Following that, she became a Counselaire with Western Airlines, training personnel in the Rocky Mountain Area and California.
Eventually, Dorothy was transferred to San Francisco. This was during the formation of the United Nations and an exciting time meeting all the people, President Harry S. Truman, General Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, General Douglas MacArthur, along with movie stars who came there to be seen. This is where Dorothy met her husband to be and they were married a year later.
Dorothy and her husband Lew were transferred around from San Francisco, to New York, back to San Francisco, to Seattle, then back to San Francisco to stay. With no children yet, Dorothy took classes in Oils, Acrylics and Ceramics. In school, she did water colors, charcoal and oils, but never had her inside cravings satisfied. While in Seattle she did substitute teaching and became active in Girl Scouts and was a leader for 17 years. When her own daughters troop was old enough, after earning the money themselves, she took the troop to the International House at Cuernavaca where they taught crafts to the 4th - 6th graders. They toured that part of Mexico as well as the area around Mexico City.
After that she worked with the adults, setting up competitions for girls throughout the US. They competed for two-week tours of various types; from working with handicapped children to mapping a new area in Wyoming purchased by the organization. One in which she was particularly involved, called Camp Cable Car, was a trip to San Francisco, learning Chinese cooking and other activities available in this area.
As Dorothy notes: "No matter where we were transferred, I tried to find a teacher in Porcelain Art. The other forms left me with a craving - something was not satisfying me. Porcelain Art is like eating peanuts... once you start, you can't stop! I finally found the art that filled my hunger. Met teacher Gladys Beesley in 1967. My name was drawn for a scholarship to Helen Humes School in Santa Barbara and I continued to attend it thereafter."
Dorothy and Audrey Schwab took lessons for a while from Gladys Beesley who taught in Menlo Park and Redwood City, then read about Elizabeth Uttinger in San Francisco. She got a class together to drive up once a month to take lessons from her. Then they found Vera Ogilvie. She went to night classes and almost fell asleep, tired from taking care of small children during the day. She promised Vera she could fill a class if she would start one in the morning and she did and was a wonderful teacher!!!! Vera then had to move to Santa Cruz and when the weather was too bad for traveling back over the hill, she asked Dorothy to take over the class. So, Dorothy took over her class, then a friend talked her into teaching a class at Little House in Menlo Park. This was before Prop. 13, when classes were $3.75 a semester, so every one took classes. At that point Dorothy had a day class and a night class in Cupertino and a morning and afternoon class in Menlo Park, so she started taking Saturday courses to teach in California and needless to say, attended porcelain schools in order to keep ahead for her students!!!
Dorothy attended Jean Sadler's school in Santa Maria. At the same time she was attending Saturday classes to get a lifetime teaching credential for the State of California for Adult Education.
She was chosen CAPA's artist of the year in 1987.
As of 1998, she was active for 38 years in a San Francisco Peninsula sorority group, Chapter for Beta Sigma Phi. They provided housing and care for runaways who must attend high school or be working during the day. Obtained funding for research for Lupus, Scleroderma and Stanford Kidney Research.
Active in San Francisco's Grace Cathedral Church including working on needlepoint kneeling cushions for their 200th Anniversary celebration.
She and her husband have three children, two girls and a boy. Her community honored her for the endeavors she has made for its schools, her church and the children of the area.
Dorothy was instrumental in helping organize and was the first president of the Peninsula China Painters. Because of her ability she was asked to assist in establishing CAPA - California Association of Porcelain Artists, and was its first President. Previously, Dorothy was President-Elect and President of the California branch of the World Federation of China Painters.
Porcelain painters in the San Francisco-Bay Area owe Dorothy a great debt. At one time she taught 80 students a week. Her influence and enthusiasm, her willingness to share her knowledge, has contributed to the progression of porcelain art.
Her seminars have taken her to most states and to Guatemala and Australia. Dorothy prefers painting portraits, animals and birds because she likes to paint pieces which "talk back".
From Dorothy: "I feel very fortunate with my life. For a gal that started out with nothing in the depression and the dust bowl, my life has held many opportunities and I hope I've taken advantage of all of them. My biggest advantage was a mother who said you can do anything you want to do... if you just make up your mind to do it. I've tried everything.. even to singing in opera. My ancestors were explorers from the 12th century so it's in my blood to try everything. It's what keeps me young!!!!" ..."You add 10 years to my life and I've lived thru the entire history of flight.. from the Wright Brothers to space exploration, but the most exciting thing to me was the discovery of the Salk Vaccine." ..... "I can only give thanks for all the wonderful things that have happened to me. I can go any place on this planet and find a friend. May not know them now but all you have to do is find a china painter and... I've had marvelous teachers. Helen Humes, Sonie Ames, Jean Sadler, Hilda Palmer, Kay Godshalk, Janet Blackwell, Carlos Spina, Fannie Lee Sartain, Dina Fazio and many others whose demos I watched. That's why CAPA was formed...to bring teachers into the state that clubs could not afford to pay their transportation. I think we've done a good job!" ..." I've had a marvelous life with all sorts of opportunities! And there is still much I want to do!!!"
Dorothy currently resides in the Gardnerville area and belongs to the local "Nevada" group. She helped June Costain start this group after CAPA was formed when she requested the Nevada group be part of CAPA. Dorothy still remains an associated member of the Peninsula group.
She has also joined a local chapter of her sorority who donate money for children on the Make a Wish Foundation; this year sending a terminally ill high school youngster to Alaska. She also helps rescuing springer spaniels.
Additional note from the editor: I would like to point out here, after trying many art forms myself and a ten year search to find porcelain artists, I finally found them at the Santa Clara County Fair. That day, my life changed forever. I still keep my Union bag with notes from a kind Harvolene Hebert from SCVPA. Just like Dorothy, "I found the art that filled my hunger." How many other CAPA members have been affected in this way, by this art form? We all share a direct link back to Dorothy.
Think of the lives that Dorothy Todd has touched, with her thirst for knowledge and her ability of teaching and sharing and a caring kindness that continues to this day. The snowball affect. Now, each one of us, shares with another.. and they share with another.. and another...
Thank you, Dorothy, from the bottom of our hearts. Whenever we think we don't have time to share or care for others, we'll think of our "fearless leader" and about the possibility of never having this joy had you not "taken the time" to share or care for us. Bless you, Dorothy, our dear friend and founder.
Onward with those scholarships !!!!
Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950
Name: Dorothy Strawn
Gender: Female
Age: 23
Birth Date: 1923
Marriage Date: 29 Jul 1946
Marriage Place: Yellowstone County, , Montana
Father: William Howard Strawn
Mother: Grace Miles
Spouse: Lewis Allen Jr. Todd
FHL Film Number: 1943770
Written by her friend and fellow porcelain artist; Sandra L. Harmon
We lost our beloved Dorothy in 2012. Rather than writing an obituary, I’m using a mini biographical article I wrote for her back in 2002, which has input directly from Dorothy. It may be more than is usually in an obituary, but Dorothy would like that it can show other “want to be” painters, that nothing is impossible if you really want to do it. I might also add, that a teacher teaches, but most importantly, they never stop learning. Share everything that you learn, and it will come back to you tenfold.
Please meet our fearless leader...The California Association of Porcelain Artists, Inc., was founded by Dorothy Todd in 1978. Twenty four years later, she is still teaching, and supporting CAPA in many ways...... But let's start a bit farther back to see where these "sparks" came from.
Dorothy Todd was born in Wyoming and educated at Eastern Montana State College in Billings, Montana. Her original vocation was to teach history. During World War II, Dorothy trained for the Women's Auxiliary Service Pilots (WASPS) in Sweetwater, Texas. Following that, she became a Counselaire with Western Airlines, training personnel in the Rocky Mountain Area and California.
Eventually, Dorothy was transferred to San Francisco. This was during the formation of the United Nations and an exciting time meeting all the people, President Harry S. Truman, General Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, General Douglas MacArthur, along with movie stars who came there to be seen. This is where Dorothy met her husband to be and they were married a year later.
Dorothy and her husband Lew were transferred around from San Francisco, to New York, back to San Francisco, to Seattle, then back to San Francisco to stay. With no children yet, Dorothy took classes in Oils, Acrylics and Ceramics. In school, she did water colors, charcoal and oils, but never had her inside cravings satisfied. While in Seattle she did substitute teaching and became active in Girl Scouts and was a leader for 17 years. When her own daughters troop was old enough, after earning the money themselves, she took the troop to the International House at Cuernavaca where they taught crafts to the 4th - 6th graders. They toured that part of Mexico as well as the area around Mexico City.
After that she worked with the adults, setting up competitions for girls throughout the US. They competed for two-week tours of various types; from working with handicapped children to mapping a new area in Wyoming purchased by the organization. One in which she was particularly involved, called Camp Cable Car, was a trip to San Francisco, learning Chinese cooking and other activities available in this area.
As Dorothy notes: "No matter where we were transferred, I tried to find a teacher in Porcelain Art. The other forms left me with a craving - something was not satisfying me. Porcelain Art is like eating peanuts... once you start, you can't stop! I finally found the art that filled my hunger. Met teacher Gladys Beesley in 1967. My name was drawn for a scholarship to Helen Humes School in Santa Barbara and I continued to attend it thereafter."
Dorothy and Audrey Schwab took lessons for a while from Gladys Beesley who taught in Menlo Park and Redwood City, then read about Elizabeth Uttinger in San Francisco. She got a class together to drive up once a month to take lessons from her. Then they found Vera Ogilvie. She went to night classes and almost fell asleep, tired from taking care of small children during the day. She promised Vera she could fill a class if she would start one in the morning and she did and was a wonderful teacher!!!! Vera then had to move to Santa Cruz and when the weather was too bad for traveling back over the hill, she asked Dorothy to take over the class. So, Dorothy took over her class, then a friend talked her into teaching a class at Little House in Menlo Park. This was before Prop. 13, when classes were $3.75 a semester, so every one took classes. At that point Dorothy had a day class and a night class in Cupertino and a morning and afternoon class in Menlo Park, so she started taking Saturday courses to teach in California and needless to say, attended porcelain schools in order to keep ahead for her students!!!
Dorothy attended Jean Sadler's school in Santa Maria. At the same time she was attending Saturday classes to get a lifetime teaching credential for the State of California for Adult Education.
She was chosen CAPA's artist of the year in 1987.
As of 1998, she was active for 38 years in a San Francisco Peninsula sorority group, Chapter for Beta Sigma Phi. They provided housing and care for runaways who must attend high school or be working during the day. Obtained funding for research for Lupus, Scleroderma and Stanford Kidney Research.
Active in San Francisco's Grace Cathedral Church including working on needlepoint kneeling cushions for their 200th Anniversary celebration.
She and her husband have three children, two girls and a boy. Her community honored her for the endeavors she has made for its schools, her church and the children of the area.
Dorothy was instrumental in helping organize and was the first president of the Peninsula China Painters. Because of her ability she was asked to assist in establishing CAPA - California Association of Porcelain Artists, and was its first President. Previously, Dorothy was President-Elect and President of the California branch of the World Federation of China Painters.
Porcelain painters in the San Francisco-Bay Area owe Dorothy a great debt. At one time she taught 80 students a week. Her influence and enthusiasm, her willingness to share her knowledge, has contributed to the progression of porcelain art.
Her seminars have taken her to most states and to Guatemala and Australia. Dorothy prefers painting portraits, animals and birds because she likes to paint pieces which "talk back".
From Dorothy: "I feel very fortunate with my life. For a gal that started out with nothing in the depression and the dust bowl, my life has held many opportunities and I hope I've taken advantage of all of them. My biggest advantage was a mother who said you can do anything you want to do... if you just make up your mind to do it. I've tried everything.. even to singing in opera. My ancestors were explorers from the 12th century so it's in my blood to try everything. It's what keeps me young!!!!" ..."You add 10 years to my life and I've lived thru the entire history of flight.. from the Wright Brothers to space exploration, but the most exciting thing to me was the discovery of the Salk Vaccine." ..... "I can only give thanks for all the wonderful things that have happened to me. I can go any place on this planet and find a friend. May not know them now but all you have to do is find a china painter and... I've had marvelous teachers. Helen Humes, Sonie Ames, Jean Sadler, Hilda Palmer, Kay Godshalk, Janet Blackwell, Carlos Spina, Fannie Lee Sartain, Dina Fazio and many others whose demos I watched. That's why CAPA was formed...to bring teachers into the state that clubs could not afford to pay their transportation. I think we've done a good job!" ..." I've had a marvelous life with all sorts of opportunities! And there is still much I want to do!!!"
Dorothy currently resides in the Gardnerville area and belongs to the local "Nevada" group. She helped June Costain start this group after CAPA was formed when she requested the Nevada group be part of CAPA. Dorothy still remains an associated member of the Peninsula group.
She has also joined a local chapter of her sorority who donate money for children on the Make a Wish Foundation; this year sending a terminally ill high school youngster to Alaska. She also helps rescuing springer spaniels.
Additional note from the editor: I would like to point out here, after trying many art forms myself and a ten year search to find porcelain artists, I finally found them at the Santa Clara County Fair. That day, my life changed forever. I still keep my Union bag with notes from a kind Harvolene Hebert from SCVPA. Just like Dorothy, "I found the art that filled my hunger." How many other CAPA members have been affected in this way, by this art form? We all share a direct link back to Dorothy.
Think of the lives that Dorothy Todd has touched, with her thirst for knowledge and her ability of teaching and sharing and a caring kindness that continues to this day. The snowball affect. Now, each one of us, shares with another.. and they share with another.. and another...
Thank you, Dorothy, from the bottom of our hearts. Whenever we think we don't have time to share or care for others, we'll think of our "fearless leader" and about the possibility of never having this joy had you not "taken the time" to share or care for us. Bless you, Dorothy, our dear friend and founder.
Onward with those scholarships !!!!
Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950
Name: Dorothy Strawn
Gender: Female
Age: 23
Birth Date: 1923
Marriage Date: 29 Jul 1946
Marriage Place: Yellowstone County, , Montana
Father: William Howard Strawn
Mother: Grace Miles
Spouse: Lewis Allen Jr. Todd
FHL Film Number: 1943770
We lost our beloved Dorothy in 2012. Rather than writing an obituary, I’m using a mini biographical article I wrote for her back in 2002, which has input directly from Dorothy. It may be more than is usually in an obituary, but Dorothy would like that it can show other “want to be” painters, that nothing is impossible if you really want to do it. I might also add, that a teacher teaches, but most importantly, they never stop learning. Share everything that you learn, and it will come back to you tenfold.
Please meet our fearless leader...The California Association of Porcelain Artists, Inc., was founded by Dorothy Todd in 1978. Twenty four years later, she is still teaching, and supporting CAPA in many ways...... But let's start a bit farther back to see where these "sparks" came from.
Dorothy Todd was born in Wyoming and educated at Eastern Montana State College in Billings, Montana. Her original vocation was to teach history. During World War II, Dorothy trained for the Women's Auxiliary Service Pilots (WASPS) in Sweetwater, Texas. Following that, she became a Counselaire with Western Airlines, training personnel in the Rocky Mountain Area and California.
Eventually, Dorothy was transferred to San Francisco. This was during the formation of the United Nations and an exciting time meeting all the people, President Harry S. Truman, General Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright, General Douglas MacArthur, along with movie stars who came there to be seen. This is where Dorothy met her husband to be and they were married a year later.
Dorothy and her husband Lew were transferred around from San Francisco, to New York, back to San Francisco, to Seattle, then back to San Francisco to stay. With no children yet, Dorothy took classes in Oils, Acrylics and Ceramics. In school, she did water colors, charcoal and oils, but never had her inside cravings satisfied. While in Seattle she did substitute teaching and became active in Girl Scouts and was a leader for 17 years. When her own daughters troop was old enough, after earning the money themselves, she took the troop to the International House at Cuernavaca where they taught crafts to the 4th - 6th graders. They toured that part of Mexico as well as the area around Mexico City.
After that she worked with the adults, setting up competitions for girls throughout the US. They competed for two-week tours of various types; from working with handicapped children to mapping a new area in Wyoming purchased by the organization. One in which she was particularly involved, called Camp Cable Car, was a trip to San Francisco, learning Chinese cooking and other activities available in this area.
As Dorothy notes: "No matter where we were transferred, I tried to find a teacher in Porcelain Art. The other forms left me with a craving - something was not satisfying me. Porcelain Art is like eating peanuts... once you start, you can't stop! I finally found the art that filled my hunger. Met teacher Gladys Beesley in 1967. My name was drawn for a scholarship to Helen Humes School in Santa Barbara and I continued to attend it thereafter."
Dorothy and Audrey Schwab took lessons for a while from Gladys Beesley who taught in Menlo Park and Redwood City, then read about Elizabeth Uttinger in San Francisco. She got a class together to drive up once a month to take lessons from her. Then they found Vera Ogilvie. She went to night classes and almost fell asleep, tired from taking care of small children during the day. She promised Vera she could fill a class if she would start one in the morning and she did and was a wonderful teacher!!!! Vera then had to move to Santa Cruz and when the weather was too bad for traveling back over the hill, she asked Dorothy to take over the class. So, Dorothy took over her class, then a friend talked her into teaching a class at Little House in Menlo Park. This was before Prop. 13, when classes were $3.75 a semester, so every one took classes. At that point Dorothy had a day class and a night class in Cupertino and a morning and afternoon class in Menlo Park, so she started taking Saturday courses to teach in California and needless to say, attended porcelain schools in order to keep ahead for her students!!!
Dorothy attended Jean Sadler's school in Santa Maria. At the same time she was attending Saturday classes to get a lifetime teaching credential for the State of California for Adult Education.
She was chosen CAPA's artist of the year in 1987.
As of 1998, she was active for 38 years in a San Francisco Peninsula sorority group, Chapter for Beta Sigma Phi. They provided housing and care for runaways who must attend high school or be working during the day. Obtained funding for research for Lupus, Scleroderma and Stanford Kidney Research.
Active in San Francisco's Grace Cathedral Church including working on needlepoint kneeling cushions for their 200th Anniversary celebration.
She and her husband have three children, two girls and a boy. Her community honored her for the endeavors she has made for its schools, her church and the children of the area.
Dorothy was instrumental in helping organize and was the first president of the Peninsula China Painters. Because of her ability she was asked to assist in establishing CAPA - California Association of Porcelain Artists, and was its first President. Previously, Dorothy was President-Elect and President of the California branch of the World Federation of China Painters.
Porcelain painters in the San Francisco-Bay Area owe Dorothy a great debt. At one time she taught 80 students a week. Her influence and enthusiasm, her willingness to share her knowledge, has contributed to the progression of porcelain art.
Her seminars have taken her to most states and to Guatemala and Australia. Dorothy prefers painting portraits, animals and birds because she likes to paint pieces which "talk back".
From Dorothy: "I feel very fortunate with my life. For a gal that started out with nothing in the depression and the dust bowl, my life has held many opportunities and I hope I've taken advantage of all of them. My biggest advantage was a mother who said you can do anything you want to do... if you just make up your mind to do it. I've tried everything.. even to singing in opera. My ancestors were explorers from the 12th century so it's in my blood to try everything. It's what keeps me young!!!!" ..."You add 10 years to my life and I've lived thru the entire history of flight.. from the Wright Brothers to space exploration, but the most exciting thing to me was the discovery of the Salk Vaccine." ..... "I can only give thanks for all the wonderful things that have happened to me. I can go any place on this planet and find a friend. May not know them now but all you have to do is find a china painter and... I've had marvelous teachers. Helen Humes, Sonie Ames, Jean Sadler, Hilda Palmer, Kay Godshalk, Janet Blackwell, Carlos Spina, Fannie Lee Sartain, Dina Fazio and many others whose demos I watched. That's why CAPA was formed...to bring teachers into the state that clubs could not afford to pay their transportation. I think we've done a good job!" ..." I've had a marvelous life with all sorts of opportunities! And there is still much I want to do!!!"
Dorothy currently resides in the Gardnerville area and belongs to the local "Nevada" group. She helped June Costain start this group after CAPA was formed when she requested the Nevada group be part of CAPA. Dorothy still remains an associated member of the Peninsula group.
She has also joined a local chapter of her sorority who donate money for children on the Make a Wish Foundation; this year sending a terminally ill high school youngster to Alaska. She also helps rescuing springer spaniels.
Additional note from the editor: I would like to point out here, after trying many art forms myself and a ten year search to find porcelain artists, I finally found them at the Santa Clara County Fair. That day, my life changed forever. I still keep my Union bag with notes from a kind Harvolene Hebert from SCVPA. Just like Dorothy, "I found the art that filled my hunger." How many other CAPA members have been affected in this way, by this art form? We all share a direct link back to Dorothy.
Think of the lives that Dorothy Todd has touched, with her thirst for knowledge and her ability of teaching and sharing and a caring kindness that continues to this day. The snowball affect. Now, each one of us, shares with another.. and they share with another.. and another...
Thank you, Dorothy, from the bottom of our hearts. Whenever we think we don't have time to share or care for others, we'll think of our "fearless leader" and about the possibility of never having this joy had you not "taken the time" to share or care for us. Bless you, Dorothy, our dear friend and founder.
Onward with those scholarships !!!!
Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950
Name: Dorothy Strawn
Gender: Female
Age: 23
Birth Date: 1923
Marriage Date: 29 Jul 1946
Marriage Place: Yellowstone County, , Montana
Father: William Howard Strawn
Mother: Grace Miles
Spouse: Lewis Allen Jr. Todd
FHL Film Number: 1943770
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
