A Tale Of Two Siblings - Minnesota Historical Society

236 Minnesota History

In his 1877 valedictory speechtohisclass-matesatMinneapolisHighSchool,ThomasSadlerRobertsearnestlyentreatedtheaudiencetopay

attentiontothe“endlessbeautyandrichness”ofnature,which“bringsmorecontentednessandsatisfactionthanrelentlesspursuitofwealth.”Localbirdswere“gorgeouslyarrayed”andlargelyignored.“Celebratedpaintings...areobjectsofadmirationandpraise,”headded,“butforbeautythroughandthrough,wemustturntoworksofnature.”1

Sittingintheaudience,hisyoungersister,Emma,ap-preciatedthesentimentthoughshewasmorelikelytoseekbeautyinnature’sdelicateflowersthanthemyriadbirdsflittingoverhead.ButbrotherandsisterembodiedtherefinedsensibilitiesoftheirQuakerforebears,whichfrequentlycombinedaloveofnaturewithanimpulseto-wardsocialresponsibility.Genteeltoafault,thesiblingswould,nonetheless,stepoutsideexpectednormsofbe-haviorintheirsearchforbeautyandthewaystoconveythisappreciationtoothers.

Thomasand(Mary)EmmaRoberts,theiryoungerbrotherJohnWalter,andtheirparents,JohnandEliza-bethSadlerRoberts,movedtoMinnesotain1867whenthestatewasrelativelyrawandunformed.ThomaswasnineandEmma,seven.TheirfatherwasmodestlywealthyfromrealestateventuresinhisnativePhiladel-phia,buthesufferedfromtuberculosis.Asthediseaseadvanced,doctorsadvisedhimtoseekreliefinthefreshairoftheUpperMidwest.HebroughthisyoungfamilytoMinneapoliswhereheembarkedonahealthfulregimeofoutdooractivity,undertakingwalksorlongbuggyridesintothecountryside.JohnRobertshadakeenin-terestinnaturalhistory,andThomasdevelopedhisloveofbirdsontheseexcursions.Fatherandsoncarriedanoldmuzzle-loadinggunforcollectingspecimenstotakehomeandidentify.2

Lessfrequently,Emmaaccompaniedherfatheronhisjaunts.Shewasmoreinterestedinthewildflowersgrow-inginprofusionalongroadsidesandinremnantwoodsandprairie.Herinterestinbirdswasdomestic—shetendedapet,whichlaidaneggthatThomasacquired.3

Sue Leaf

A Tale of Two Siblings

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Thefamily’swealthfreedJohnfromaworkschedule.Italsoallowedhimtobuyacomfortablehomewithaveranda,garden,andabarnfortheirhorseatUtah(nowEighth)StreetandFirstAvenueNorth,ontheedgeofMinneapolis’sbusinessdistrict.Largeburoaksshadedthelawn.Thefamilyemployedacookanda“girl”and,becauseofJohn’shealth,ahandymanwhodidyardwork.

Inthespringof1874,16-year-oldThomasbeganabirdjournal.Herecordedbirdshesaworcollectedandothertidbitsofornithologicalinterest.Minneapoliswasrifewithbirdsthen.MigratingduckscoveredthesurfaceofLakeCalhouninspringandfall;flocksofshorebirdsinthehundredsvisitedfavoritestop-oversitesonprairieremnantsnearthecity.Withthemuzzleloader,hewentafterinterestingspecimens:anorthernshrikeinthetamarackswamp“atthefootoftheBluffs”;passengerpigeons(toeat)ontheshoreofLakeJohanna.4

Roamingthecountrysideinhisteens,ThomasalsobecameconversantwithMinnesota’splantlife.Heandlike-mindedfriendswereskilledenoughtocontributetotheofficiallistofplantsbeingcompiledatthetimebyWarrenUphamforthestate’ssurveyofflora.5

ThechildrenattendedJeffersonSchoolatTenthStreetandHarmonPlace,walkingfourblockstoclasses.Emmawasoftentakenabackbyherolderbrother’scourtlinessasheopenedJefferson’sheavydoorforherandstoodasidetoletherprecedehim.Theneighbor-hoodwasalivewithchildren,andsomeofthefriendshipsthatThomasandEmmaforgedatthewoodendoubledesksofJeffersonlastedtheirlifetimes.Emma’sclosefriendsincludedCarolineBovey,theoldestofsix,whosefatherwasinthelumberbusiness,andJennieCleveland,whosefatherownedafoundryontheroadleadingtoFortSnelling.6

BothThomasandEmmawerefriendswiththeKing-mankids—JosephandSusan—andasthechildrengrewintotheirteens,theywereallpartofasocialset,theGalaxyClub.TheGalaxymetweekly,andinthewinterof1878putonanoriginalplaywithacastof16.Often,though,playpracticegotpreemptedbymusicandaneveningof“muchbodilyexerciseinthewayofdancing,”Thomasconfessed.7TheGalaxywastheplacetobewhenThomasandJoeKingmanwerefreshmenattheUniver-sityofMinnesota.

Thomasstudiedtwoyearsthereandthenleftin1882topursueamedicaldegreeattheUniversityofPenn-sylvaniainPhiladelphia.TheRoberts’swealthwasnotsufficienttoallowhimalifeofleisure;hewouldneedanincome.ItisnotknownwhetherEmmacompletedhighschool.YoungwomenofhersocialsetweresentEasttoexperience“finishing,”includingtheater,concerts,andballs.EmmaspentseveralwinterswithherauntsinBal-timoreandHavredeGrace,Maryland,andPhiladelphiabutgenerallynotforlongperiodsoftime.8

Emmaattractedsuitors,particularlyfriendsofThomas.Onlyoneletterofhersremains.In1880shewrotetoThomasofonemancallingonherandrequest-ingsheplayHaydnonthepiano(“Haydn,”sheconfided,“isfarbeyondme.”);attendingabandconcertatLakeMinnetonkawithanother;andreceivingaletterfromJoeKingman.ButherbignewsforThomaswasthatJennieCleveland,evidentlyapersonofinteresttohim,wasreturningfromChicago.Sheclosedtheletterwithadomesticmessage:“Mamawantstoknowwhatyoudidwithyoursatchel.”9

Sue Leaf is a freelance natural history writer. She is the author of ALoveAffairwithBirds:TheLifeofThomasSadlerRoberts (University of Minnesota Press, 2013).

Roberts family, probably 1867. Seated: parents John

and Elizabeth, along with Emma; Thomas stands behind

Emma and John Walter at his mother’s side.

Facing: Thomas Sadler Roberts in the bird room at the

University of Minnesota’s zoology building, about 1916.

Emma Roberts at her easel on a trip to the East, 1890s.



In1879,whenEmmawas20,JoeKingmanwrotetoThomas,alludingtoaweddingengagementofEmma’sthathehadseeninthenewspaper.JoegoadedThomasaboutanan-nouncementofhisown—thetwohadmadesocialcallstogether,vis-itingfriends,particularlywomen.Thomas’sengagementwouldnotcomeforanothersixyears,andtherewasneveranotherreferenceinRob-ertsfamilywritingstoamatchforEmma.InMay1881shereturnedhomefromaseven-monthvisittotheEastCoastandbeganartlessonsinMinneapolis.Itwasthefirstin-dicationfromfamilylettersthatshewasseriouslyinterestedinart.10

Whileinmedicalschool,ThomascouldnotaffordtotravelhomeatChristmas.In1883Emmamadethetriptohim.Thesiblingsmetattheiraunt’shomeinBaltimore,shoppedforpresentsdowntown,andenjoyedtimewiththeirfavoritecousins.WithrelativesinHavredeGrace,theyviewed“tableauxatCityHall”thattheybothfound“rathercrudeincharacter,”Thomaswrote,but“enjoyeditallthemoreforthisveryreason.”11

EmmahadbroughtalongheroriginalwatercolorsofMinnesotawildflowers,possiblyaChristmasgiftforThomas.Theflowerswerepaintedonheavy,large-scalepaperbutwerethemselvesrathersmallandpainstakinglyrendered.Thomas,anaccomplishedbotanistaftermanysummersofcollectingplantsinthefield,thoughttheywerequitegood.HeshowedthemtobotanistsinPhiladelphiawhopraisedthemfortheiraccuracy.“Ifeltmuchpleasedatthiscommendationofsister’swork,”Thomaswrote.Laterinthewinter,

heshowedthepaintingstohisfriendAgnesWilliams,whoalsohadaninterestinbothwatercolorandwild-flowers.Agneswouldeventuallyaddherownpaintingstotheseries.12

Thomas rejoined the family in 1886aftercom-pletinghismedicaldegreeandayear’sresidencyinPhila-delphia.HewasnowengagedtoEmma’sfriendJennieCleveland.Thomaswas28,Emma27.Theiryoungerbrother,JohnWalter,hadbecomeatravelingsalesmanandwouldhenceforthspendlimitedtimeinMinneapo-lis.Thomasassumedmedicalcarefortheiragingparents,butday-to-dayoversightofthehouseholdfelltoEmma.13

Fromherfather’sjournalsweknowthatEmmawassocial.ShewasactiveinparishlifeatSt.Mark’sEpis-copalChurch,stayedwithfriendsatLakeMinnetonkaduringthesummerheat,andwentoutwiththeSketch-ingClubofMinneapolis.Sheattendedthetheaterandballs—specifically,theMasonicgalaopeningofitsnewtempleatSixthStreetandHennepinAvenue.Havingeludedinterestedsuitors,Emmanowsocializedmainlywithfamilyorwithothersinglewomen.OneofthesewasFlorenceWales,aMinneapolisnativeanddaughterofaterritorialsettler,WilliamW.Wales.Florencewasawatercoloristwhoby1890spentsummerspaintinginGloucester,Massachusetts,andtakingartlessonsinNewYorkCity.14

Afterherfatherdiedfromtuberculosisin1890,Emma’sburdenslessened.Sheandhermotherrentedthefamilyhome,visitedFlorenceWalesinGloucester,andthenwenttoNewYorkCity.TheyrentedaflatinManhattan,andEmmatookartlessonsfromwatercolor-istRhodaHolmesNicholls.TheRobertsesalsosubletroomstoFlorenceWales,hersisterNellie,andanotherMinneapoliswoman.15

Allfouryoungerwomenwereinvolvedwithanartorganizationthattheyreferredtoas“theLeague,”most

Arethusa, one of the wildfl ower

watercolors Emma gave to Thomas

Judges selected Emma’s wildfl ower watercolors to hang in the Minnesota

Building at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.


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likelytheArtStudentsLeagueofNewYork,avigorousandsomewhatinformalschoolthatattractedbothama-teursandprofessionalartists.Theleaguelistedpromi-nentartistsonitsfaculty.Foratleasttwowinters,1892and1893,Emmaandherfriendsattendedclassesthere,paintedchina(possiblyfornecessaryincome),workedinstudio,andstrolledthemanyartgalleriesofthecity.Inherjournal,ElizabethRoberts,chaperonetotheunmar-riedwomen,recordednightsatthetheater,walksinCentralPark,shoppingoutings,andthetrialsofretain-ingdomestichelp.16

EmmaandFlorencegainedrecognition.TheywereinvitedtohangtheirworkinshowsattheNewYorkCityWaterColorClub,Philadelphia’sPennsylvaniaAcademyofFineArts,andtheClevelandArtAssocia-tion.BackinMinnesota,judgesselectedEmma’swild-flowerwatercolorstohangintheMinnesotaBuildingatthe1893World’sColumbianExpositioninChicago.There,thepaintingsheldtheirownagainstacollectionofherbarium-pressed,actualflowersthatwerealsodis-played.Infact,thechiefoftheexposition’sAnthropo-logicalBuildingrequestedthatthewatercolorsbehungthereforatime,wheretheyattractedwiderattentionandsecuredanawardforEmma.Thepaintingsnearlymissedtheexpositionaltogether,though.TheybelongedtoThomas,andhewasleeryoflendingthemout.17

InOctober1893,EmmaandFlorencerentedastudioindowntownMinneapolis’sNewYorkLifeInsurance

Companybuilding,wheretheypaintedandtaught.TheyinitiatedaseriesofstudioteasonTuesdayafternoons.Guestsstoppedbytoviewtheirworkspaceandgalleryofpaintingsbythemandtheirstudents.Waterwasheatedinasamovar,andthescentofstrongteawasenhancedbymood-settingzithermusicemanatingfrombehindascreen.18NewYorkLifewasanewandritzybuilding.OnthecornerofFifthStreetandSecondAvenue,itwasclosetothecountycourthouseand,asaconsequence,housedmanylawyers.AmongthemwaschildhoodfriendJoeKingman,nowarisingattorney,recentlymarriedwithayoungchild.HewasbothThomasandEmmaRoberts’slegalconsultant.

EmmafurtheredherexpertiseontripstotheEast.In1895shesummeredontheAtlanticcoast,studyingunderIrvingWiles,aleadingartistwithaparticularaffinityforbeachscenes,andChildeHassan,whowasgainingfameasanAmericanImpressionistandhadadefiniteflairforvibrantcolor.PerhapsitwasHassanwhoinfluencedEmma’saward-winningwatercolorofchrysanthemums,In November.Thepainting,whichtheMinneapolis Tribune considereda“royalpieceofcolor,”wasoriginallyexhibitedin1899ataMinneapolisArtLeagueshow.Thejudgesnotedits“breadthandhan-dlingandarrangementofcolor.”In NovemberlaterhungattheAmericanWaterColorSocietyinNewYork,Phila-delphiaArtClub,ChicagoArtInstitute,andtheGreaterAmericaExpositioninOmaha.19

Minnesota Building at the World’s

Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893

Thomas Roberts at home on Fourth Avenue South, about 1898


While Emma established herselfasaprofes-sionalartist,Thomasbuilthismedicalpractice.Asolidcoreofpatientswereinflourmilling,includingtheCrosbys,Bells,andWashburns,orwereJeffersonSchoolmates,liketheBoveys.Inthe1890sDr.Roberts,nowmarriedandthefatherofthree,practicedoutofasmallofficeinhisresidenceat1603FourthAvenueSouth.Emmalivedaroundthecornerwiththeirmother,at409EastSixteenthStreet.Hemadehousecallsbyhorseandbuggymostmorningsandnotafewevenings.Officehoursoccupiedtheafternoon.ThepracticethrivedandRobertswasfranticallybusy—butnottoobusytodiscussbirdswithpatients.20

In1893,whilestateofficialspreparedEmma’swild-flowerpaintingsfortheColumbianExposition,ThomasbegancollectingbirdsfortheGeologicalandNaturalHistorySurveyofMinnesota.Thiswasbeforetrainedscientistsdominatedthefieldbut,eventoday,skilledamateurscontributetoornithology.Takingvacationtime,hecollectedatHeronLake,animmensewetlandsinsouthwesternMinnesota.In1894heassumedthetitleofornithologistforthesurvey(anunpaidposition)andspenttwoweekstakingbreedingbirdsintheLakeVer-milionareaofnorthernMinnesota.Hemadestudyskinsofbirdshecollected;thesewouldformthefoundationofthestate’snatural-historymuseumholdings.Healreadyhadthousandsofskinsinhispersonalcollection,beguninhisteens.21

Laterinthe1890stheRobertssiblings,self-confidentandnotoverlyconcernedwithsocialstatus,soughtnewendeavors.Emmatookpaidwork,becomingtheassistantdirectorofdrawingfortheMinneapolispublicschools.Thomasboughtacameraandpioneeredinwildlifephotography.Bothchangesreflectedthesiblings’latentinterestineducationandprovidedthemeansforsharingtheirpassionswithawiderpublic.

Emmawasatrailblazerinassumingacareeroutsidethehome.Rarelydidwomenofherclassworkforpay.Emma,though,wasspecificallytrained,andherskillswereappropriatelyfeminine.22Itislikelythatherinheri-tancewasnotenoughtoallowhertoliveindependently,keepdomestichelp,andtravel,whichshehadbeguntodo.

Inthispre-copy-machineera,drawingwasaneces-saryskillforschoolchildren.EmmaassistedBonnieSnow,whomentoredher,layingthefoundationforEmma’scareerasaneducator.WhenSnowresignedin1904,Emmabecameheadoftheprogram.Shewouldblossominthejobandexpanditsscopeasshegrewinappreciationofthevalueofarteducation.23

Photographywasbothacraftandanartthatrequiredextraordinarypatience.HavingacameraallowedThomastostudylivingbirdsandusehisshotgunless.HeturnedhislensonacolonyofFranklin’sgullsatHeronLake,admiringthe“beautifulrosehue”ofthegull’sunder-partsandbreathlessoverthe“thrillingperformance”ofitsaerialdisplay.24Thomaswasparticularlyinterestedinproducingslidesformagic-lanternshows,depictingthebeautyofbirdsinanewway.Toenhancetheiref-fect,magic-lanternslideswereusuallycoloredbyhand;Thomas,aperfectionistrequiringmeticulousreproduc-tionofplumagecolor,entrustedtheworktoEmma.

Theseexquisiteslidesthrilledattendeesatthe1899AmericanOrnithologistsUnionmeetinginPhiladelphia.Oneattendeeenthused,“Dr.Roberts’views[slides]oftheFranklin’sGullstoryweresimplyastonishingandhisstorycaptivating.”EncouragedbythepraiseandalsobyBird Loremagazine,anewmeansofshowinghiswork,Thomasdevotedmanyhourstophotographingnests,nestlings,birdsinaction,andlandscapesofadisappear-ingMinnesotawilderness.25

When Elizabeth Roberts died in 1903,opportu-nitiesexpandedagainforEmma.In1904shefoundedtheHandicraftGuildofMinneapolis,acollaborationofartiststhatpromotedarteducation,providedspaceforworkingartists,andpromotedthevaluesoftheArts

Thomas Roberts, his camera on a makeshift platform,

photographing a fl ycatcher’s nest at Heron Lake, 1899.

Tom Miller holds the ladder.



andCraftsmovement.ThesevalueswerearesponsetothedramaticdepersonalizationthatbeganwiththeIn-dustrialRevolutionahalf-centurybefore.TheArtsandCraftsmovementchampionedhandcrafteditemsthatwerefunctionalandenhancedthebeautyofeverydaylife.IntheUnitedStates,therewasanaddedemphasisonregionalism.ThePrairieSchoolarchitecturalmovementwasareflectionofthisphilosophy.26

Throughherworkinthepublicschools,Emmasawaneedforclassestotrainteacherstoteachart.Shelaunchedtheguildtomeetthatneed,butitwasalsoameansbywhichshecouldfurtherhervisionofartper-meatingeverydaylife.Sheservedasitspresidentformostoftheorganization’sexistence(1906–17).

MostHandicraftGuildmemberswerewomen.Itsubtlypromotedcollaborationratherthanhierarchicalgovernanceandreachedouttodrawinamateursaswellasestablishedartists.Theguild’sflexiblesenseofmissionchangedastheneedsandinterestsofthelargercom-munitychanged.Althoughthesewerefeministidealsinanagewhenwomenhadbecomeacutelyawareoftheirstatusinsocietyandwereorganizingfortherighttovote,thereisnoindicationthatEmmaevercharacterizedher-selfinsuchsociallyactivistterms.

Theguildhelditsfirst“SummerSchoolofDesignAppliedtoCrafts”in1905andattractedthehighlyre-gardeddesignerErnestBatchelderofThroopPolytechnic(nowCaltech)toleadit.AmongtheteachersonstaffwasFlorenceWillets,apotterfromChicago.Florencehailedfromafamilyofartists;hersisterAnitawasawatercolorpaintermarriedtoChicagoarchitectAlfredBurnham,nephewofarchitectDanielBurnhamwhodesignedthe1893ColumbianExposition.Intime,Florencewouldbe-comethelifecompaniontoEmma,andsheservedastheguild’svice-presidentduringEmma’stenureaspresident.FlorenceWaleswasthelongtimesecretary-treasurer.Thesummerschoolquicklygainednationalrecognition.

SorapidwasthesuccessoftheHandicraftGuildthatitsoonoutgrewitsinitiallocation.In1906itmovedto89SouthTenthStreetindowntownMinneapolis.OldfriendJoeKingman,nowaprominentlawyer,putupthecapitalforconstruction.Thethree-storybrickbuilding,stillstanding,wasstuddedwithbeautifulhandcraftedfeatures:fireplaceswithceramictilesandburnishedcop-perhoods,lightfixturesofartglassandmetalfiligree,wallsconceswithpeacocksandtreemotifs.Atearoomandsalesareawereonstreetlevel.Alargesecond-floorauditoriumwithdarkbeamsandvaultedceilingseatedbetweenthreeandfourhundred.

ThefollowingdecadewasaheadyoneforEmma.SheandFlorenceWilletsattendedseveralInternationalArtCongressesinEurope:Londonin1908,Dresden,Berlin,andMunichin1910,andDresdenagainin1912,thistimeaccompaniedbyThomas’s22-year-olddaughter.Ononetrip,EmmacollectedRembrandtreproductionsfortheschoolsandbroughthomeseveralthousandsmallpicturesofmasterpiecesforusebyclassroomteachers.Atthe1912Dresdencongress,shewastheonlyAmericanwomantoaddresstheattendees,speakingontheunder-lyingprinciplesofteachingartintheschools.ShevisitedthegreatcathedralsinEnglandandScotland,touredGreece,Constantinople,andBudapest,andstrolledthemuseumsofVienna,Prague,andBerlin.27

Athome,shecommissionedMinneapolisArtsandCraftsarchitectEdwinHawleyHewitttodesignahouseforher.Hesiteditat14EastFifty-FirstStreet,nearMin-nehahaCreekinwhatbecameknownasTangletownbutwasthenontheedgeofthecity.ThecompactstuccoedhousewasdecoratedwithhandcraftedceramictilesbyErnestBatchelder.Tilesstuddinganoutsideretainingwallboretheimprintoffantasticalbirdswithtopknotsandlongtails.28Emmamovedintothehousein1913.Itwasthefirsttimeshehadnotlivedclosetoherimmediatefam-ily.Shewas54.

Handicraft Guild building, Minneapolis, about 1909

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Retaining wall tile



While Emma fl ourished in her workwiththeschoolsandattheguild,Thomashadputhisbelovedbirdworkonholdasthedemandsofhismedicalprac-ticeintensified.Hiscollectionpartiesundertheauspicesofthestate’snaturalhistorysurvey,suchasforaysintonorthwesternMinnesotain1900and1901,becameathingofthepast.Hestayedclosertohomeand,by1907,tookverylittletimeoff.Hehaddevelopedahighprofileinobstetricsandwouldnotrelinquishpatients,whowereoftenalsosocialfriends,toanotherphysician.Onememorablesummer,1905,hedeliverednineinfants,sixinJunealone.29

Thepressurestookatoll.Sufferingfromoverwork,hespentamonthontheGulfCoastin1905and,in1913,fourweeksinBermuda,recoveringfromexhaustion.Finally,believingthathewouldnotlivebeyondthree-scoreyearsandten—hismaleRobertsancestorshaddiedaround70—heclosedhismedicalpractice,exceptforabout25familieswhokepthimonretainer.30

InJune1915ThomastookanunpaidjobasassociatecuratoroftheMuseumofNaturalHistoryattheUni-versityofMinnesota(forerunneroftheBellMuseumofNaturalHistory).Inaddition,hewasnamedprofessorofornithologyintheanimalbiologydepartment,alsounpaid.Robertswas57.Aselectgroupofbenefactors,mainlypatients,raisedfundsforhiscollectiontrips.They

werenonplussedbyhim,though,expressingadmirationforhis“rathereccentricmakeup.”31

Themuseumgotanewhomein1916whenthezool-ogydepartmentmovedintoaspaciousnewbuildingonthesouthwestcornerofWashingtonAvenueandChurchStreet.Itsthirdfloorwasdesignedtohousethenaturalhistorycollection.Bytitle,Robertswassecondincom-mand,butinactualityhefunctionedasdirector.Heandthemuseum’schiefdonor,JamesFordBell,aformerpatientandexecutiveoftheWashburn-CrosbyCompany,plannedoutseveraldioramasdisplayinglargemammalsintheirnaturalhabitat.Onewithwoodlandcaribou,alreadycompleted,movedtothenewbuilding.NewYorkmuralistCharlesCorwinwashiredtopaintbackgrounds.Workonadisplayofbighornsheepsoonbegan,andadioramaofbeavers,nearlyextirpatedfromMinnesota,wasplanned.Robertssawthemuseumasachancetoraisetheawarenessofthegeneralpublic.“Itisforevery-bodytoseeandenjoyandlearnabouttheinterestingwildthingsthataredisappearingorgettingtooremotetobeeasilyfound,”hedeclared.“WewantthepeopleofMinnesotatocometoournewmuseum.”32

Themuseumalsoservedasthescientificassem-blageofrepresentativetypesofanimalsinMinnesota.Roberts’s6,000skinsfromthe1870swereaddedtothebirdcollection.Protectedbywoodencases,theytookup

Thomas and Jennie Roberts at Itasca State Park, about 1917


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considerablespace.HehadhousedtheminastoreroomattheHandicraftGuildbuildinguntilthemuseumgavethemahome.33

Initiallyreluctant,Robertswarmedtothetaskofteachingornithology.Thefirstclassconsistedofsixstudents—fiveyoungwomenandaman.InAprilandMay,Robertstookthemoutdoorswiththeirbinocularseveryclassperioditdidnotrain(orsnow).HefrequentlyusedEmma’shouseinTangletownasabasefromwhichtheycouldwalktoWashburnPark(siteofpresent-dayWashburnHighSchool)andthentoPearlLake,ade-lightfullittlemarsh,andthencealongMinnehahaCreekbacktoEmma’s.Shehostedthesmallclassestosimplesuppers.Alecturebytheprofessorfollowedthemeal.HiswifeJennie,Emma’sgirlhoodfriend,oftenaccompa-niedthem.34

RobertswasnowMinnesota’spremierspokesmanfornaturalhistory.Mostofhisstudentsweredestinedtoteachpublicschool.Aftergraduation,theycarriedtheirenthusiasmforwhattheylearnedfromRobertsoutintoMinnesota’ssmalltowns,organizingnature-studygroupsandsmallnaturemuseumsfortheirstudentsandinvitingtheirformerprofessortotalktocivicgroupsandshowhisslides.

Asherbrothergainedhisfootingasateacher,Emmabroadenedthepublicschools’scopeofarteducation.Sheadoptedtheslogan“ArtforLife’sSake,”ratherthan“ArtforArt’sSake”andspokeeloquentlyoftheneedforchil-drentolearnhowtoseetheworldaboutthem.“Ifchildrenpaintsnow,flowersoranythingelseinnature,”sheex-plained,“theylookatthemdifferentlythenexttimetheyseethem.”ShetookgroupsofchildrenonguidedtoursofthetapestrycollectionintheMinneapolisInstituteofArtsandclaimedthatexposuretogreatworksofarthadacivilizingeffectonunrulystudents,acommentthat

garneredheraninaccuratebutmemorableheadlineintheMinneapolis Tribune:“MonaLisa’sSmileJustMeltsBadnessOutoftheBadBoy.”35

In1918Emmalaunchedanart-appreciationcurricu-lumforthecity’sschools.Studentsdrewoncontempo-raryevents,likethebombingofthecathedralatRheimsduringtheGreatWar,tolearnabouttheartistryofEu-rope’smagnificentcathedrals.Shewoveartappreciationintootherclasses,aswell.AsocialstudiescourseonJap-aneseculture,forexample,wouldincludeinstructiononJapaneseart.Tofacilitatetheselessons,theMinneapolisInstituteofArtsprovidedaclassroomandfreeaccesstoallofitsgalleriesandgaveEmmaaworkspaceinwhichtoassembleslidesforherlectures.36

Both siblings published several worksduringthe1910s.Emma’sDrawing and Handwork: Outline and Suggestions (1913)gaveteachersmonthlyoutlinesforles-sonsinallgrades.Twoyearslater,Thomasauthored“TheWinterBird-LifeofMinnesota,”atopichehadstudiedsincehisteens.In1916EmmapublishedPicture Studies,aseriesofbookletsfocusingonvariousartists,topreparechildrenforartstudy.ShealsosawherPencil and Brushreleased,whichdiscussedallaspectsofteachingart,fromclaymodelingtoleathertooling,paintingtojewelrymaking.37

Thenextyear,thesiblingsattractedattentioninalocalmagazine,The Minnesotan.TheMayissueincludedThomas’s“AMinnesotaSpringtimeBirdCalendar,”il-lustratedwithhischarmingphotosofbabybirdsperchedonbranches.Asecondarticle,illustratedwithfourpho-tographsofrooms,featuredEmma’swell-designedhouse,focusingonitscomfort,cheeriness,anddelighttotheinhabitant.Then,in1918,Thomasproducedanextensivepaper,“TheWaterBirdsofMinnesota:PastandPresent,”areportofthestateGameandFishCommission.ItwasthemostcomprehensiveworkonMinnesotabirdstodate,anditincludedhisphotographsofnestswitheggs.38

In1919theHandicraftGuildwasabsorbedintotheUniversityofMinnesota’sarteducationdepartment,atransferthatEmmaandFlorenceWilletsinitiated.Theyhadbeeninofficealmostsincetheguild’sinceptionandwereincreasinglyburdenedwithadministeringbothitsbuildingandthecourseofferings.Oneyearlater,after24yearswiththepublicschools,Emmaresignedherposi-tion.39Shewas61.Atthattime,herolderbrotherwasstillintheearlystagesofhissecondcareerasanornithologist.HistwogreatestgiftstoMinnesotawereyettocome.

“It is for everybody to see and enjoy and learn about the interesting

wild things that are disappearing or getting too remote to be easily found. We want the people of Minnesota

to come to our new museum.”



After steadily writing forfouryears—andusinginformationhehadaccumulatedoveralifetime—Thomasin1932sawhistwo-volumetome,The Birds of Minnesota,printed.Partofthebook’scharmarethebeautifulillustrationsbysixwildlifeartists,includingayoungWalterBreckenridge,whoworkedforRobertsatthemuseum,andFrancesLeeJaques,whopaintedZen-likewatercolorsofheronsandpassengerpigeons.BirdsintroducedJaques’sworktoMinnesotans.The bookwasaninstantsuccess,sellingoutwithinweeksofbeingreleased.TheUniversityofMinnesotaPressquicklyranasecondprinting,whichalsosoldout.ButRoberts’sju-bilationwascheckedbyJennie’sdeathinOctober1932,justafewmonthsafterpublication.Theyhadbeenmar-riedalmost46years.40

Thomaskeptonworking.In1936thesecondeditionofBirds wasreleased.Nownearing80,hebeganworkonanabridgededition,whichusedthesamebeautifulpaintingsastheoriginal.

Meanwhile,thenaturalhistorymuseumonthethirdfloorofthezoologybuildinghadoutgrownitsquarters.In1938JamesFordBellofferedtodonatehalfthecosts

ofanewstructure,shouldafundingpartnerbefound.Inrapidsuccession,theuniversitysoughtfundsfromtheNewDeal’sPublicWorksAdministration,receivedthem,andbrokegroundatacampussiteonChurchStreet.41Thomaswas81.

ItwasabigyearforRoberts:inNovember1938hereceivedthedistinguishedBrewsterMedalfromtheAmericanOrnithologists’Unionformeritoriousworkinornithology—andhewasarelativenewlywed.ThebridewasAgnesWilliams,thePhiladelphiaartistwhohadaddedportraitsofwildflowerstoEmma’sportfolioofwatercolorssolongago.42

ThomasneverretiredfromtheinstitutionthatwouldberenamedtheBellMuseum,remainingtooverseemostofthedioramas.HestayedinclosecontactwithEmmawhenshewasinMinneapolis.SheandFlorenceWilletsfrequentlywinteredintheLosAngelesarea,travelingtherebytrain.Whenintown,sheandThomasdinedto-getheratleastonceaweek.Aroundoffour-handedcrib-bageoftenfollowedthemeal,thesiblingsagainstAgnesandFlorence.Sometimes,Thomassquiredthethreewomenouttodinner—theAutoClubinBloomingtonwasafavoriteplace—ortoamovie.The80-somethingswereenamoredofHollywood.Manyoftheirfriendsfromchildhoodaccompaniedthemintooldage,andtheywereguestsofJoeKingmanoroneoftheBoveys.43

AfterthecloseofWorldWarII,Emmasufferedayearofstunningloss.FlorenceWalesdiedinJuly1945at83;JoeKingmanonNewYear’sEve1945at87;brotherThomasat88inApril1946,andsister-in-law,AgnesRoberts,at86thatJuly.Then,inDecember1948atage89,EmmaherselfpassedawayinLosAngeles.44

As they grew older,theRobertssiblingsevencametoresembleeachotherphysically.“Iwastotheartex-hibitbeforeschoolclosed,”oneofThomas’sstudentswrote,“andIalmostwentuptoawomanandsaid,‘HelloDr.Roberts’sister,’fortherestoodyourfemininecounterpart—eveninspeech.”45Itcouldbesaidthatthetwowereoneinpurpose,eachpursuingbeautyinitsmanyforms.Thomasfounditinthegracefulworldofbirds;Emmasoughtitmorebroadly,incolorandform,inthewell-craftedobject,inthedelicateflower.BothsharedthesensethatMinnesota,anewplaceintheirchildhood,wasunformedandevolving,andthattheyhadaroletoplayinshapingit.Theirlegacy,rendereddiffusethroughthepas-sageoftime,nonethelessremains:acommunityattunedtonatureandbroadlysupportiveofthevisualarts. a

Emma and Thomas Roberts, siblings who remained

close throughout life, about 1942


Summer 2013 245

Notes1.T.S.Roberts,“StrangersatHome,”

May1877,ThomasS.RobertsandFamilyPapers,MinnesotaHistoricalSociety(MHS).

2.T.S.Roberts,“RamblesofaBirdLoverinMinnesota,”The Flicker,Oct.1,1944,5–7.TheMinnesotaOrnithologists’UnionhadaskedRobertstowritearemi-niscence.

3.ThomasS.Roberts,Shotgun and Stethoscope: The Journals of Thomas Sadler Roberts, ed.andtranscribedbyPenelopeKrosch(Minneapolis:BellMuseumofNat-uralHistory,1991),11(July4,1874).

4.Roberts,Shotgun and Stethoscope,6(Apr.2,1874),9(May30,1874).Thetama-rackswampwasatthepresent-daysiteoftheMinneapolisSculptureGarden.

5.Roberts,Shotgun and Stethoscope,212(Dec.3,1881).

6.HarryWoodworth,“AmongThoseWeKnow,”Golfer and Sportsman,Dec.1938,77.

7.T.S.RobertstoFrankBenner,Nov.4,1877,Robertspapers.FredandFrankSny-derwerealsopartoftheGalaxy;futureMinneapolissocialiteHarryRobinsonwrotetheplay,The Diamond Necklace.

8.JohnRoberts,Journal,May5,1881,Robertspapers.

9.EmmaRobertstoT.S.Roberts,July24,1880,Robertspapers.

10.JosephKingmantoT.S.Roberts,Dec.7,1879;JohnRoberts,Journal,May20,1881,Oct.10,1881—allinRobertspapers.

11.Roberts,Shotgun and Stethoscope,230–31(Dec.21,1883–Jan.1,1884).

12.Roberts,Shotgun and Stethoscope,233(Jan.27,1884).ThesewatercolorsarenowownedbytheBellMuseumofNaturalHistory.

13.ForoneexampleofEmmamanagingthehousehold,seeJohnRoberts,Journal,Jan.3,1890.

14.JohnRoberts,Journal,Aug.24,1888,Apr.8,1890,Feb.9,1890.

15.ElizabethSadlerRoberts,Journal,Feb.24,1892,Robertspapers.

16.ElizabethRoberts,Journal,1891–93.SeveralentriesrelatewalkinghomefromFifty-SeventhStreet,thelocationoftheArtStudentsLeague.

17.UndatedMinneapolisnewspaperclippinginsertedintoElizabethRoberts’sjournal(out-of-stateshows);Minneapolis Tribune,Oct.8,1893,12;Mrs.L.P.Hunt,“Secretary’sReportoftheWoman’sAuxil-iaryBoardofMinnesota,World’sColum-bianExposition,”17–18,folder2,World’sColumbianExpositionpamphletcollection,MHS.

18.Minneapolis Tribune,“InterestsoftheHour,”Mar.25,1896,4.

19. Minneapolis Tribune,“TheSocietySociety,”Sept.29,1895,18,and“Art,”June18,1899,A6.

20.SueLeaf,A Love Affair With Birds: The Life of Thomas Sadler Roberts(Minne-apolis:UniversityofMinnesotaPress,2013),103,101.Hishousestoodsouthofpresent-dayCentralLutheranChurch.Interstate94nowrunsthroughtheyard.

21.MarkV.BarrowJr.,A Passion for Birds (Princeton,NJ:PrincetonUniversityPress,1998),100–01;Leaf,Love Affair With Birds,141.

22.AliceKessler-Harris,Out to Work: A History of Wage- Earning Women in the United States (NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,2003),113–14.

23.Minneapolis Tribune,Apr.7,1904,5.24.T.S.Roberts,The Birds of Minne-

sota(Minneapolis:UniversityofMinnesotaPress,1932),1:550–51.

25.WalterDeanetoRuthvenDeane,Nov.19,1899,folder136,box13,BellMuseumofNaturalHistoryRecords,UniversityofMinnesotaArchives,Minne-apolis.Bird Lore,theforerunnerofAudu-bon Magazine,waseditedbyRoberts’sfriendFrankChapman.

26.Hereandfourparagraphsbelow,MarciaG.Anderson,“ArtforLife’sSake:TheHandicraftGuildofMinneapolis,”inArt and Life on the Upper Mississippi, 1890–1915,ed.MichaelConforti (Newark:UniversityofDelawarePresswiththeMin-neapolisInstituteofArts,1994),127–28.

27.Minneapolis Tribune,Oct.16,1910,23,June2,1912,45.

28.Anderson,“ArtforLife’sSake,”128–29.

29.T.S.Roberts,casehistories(cardfile),Robertspapers.

30.JaneClevelandtoT.S.Roberts,Feb.10,Feb.13,Mar.2,1913,folder53,box6,BellMuseumrecords;Leaf,Love Affair With Birds,142,143.

31.G.H.PartridgetoT.S.Roberts,June6,1916,folder159,box14,BellMuseumre-cords.

32.CarylB.Storrs,“Minnesota’sWild-LifeMuseum,”The Minnesotan,Mar.1917,11.

33.HenryNachtriebtoGeorgeE.Vin-cent,Dec.26,1914,folder24,box1,HenryNachtriebPapers,UniversityofMinnesotaArchives.

34.Hereandbelow,Leaf,Love Affair With Birds,152.Themarshislonggone,filledintomakerecreationalfields,butPearlParkremains.

35.Minneapolis Tribune,Jan.23,1916,C12,Jan.10,1915,A7.

36.Minneapolis Tribune,Sept.6,1918,17;“Co-operationwiththePublicSchools,”Bulletin of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts,Oct.1918,45.

37.Anderson,“ArtforLife’sSake,”164;ThomasRoberts,“TheWinterBird-LifeofMinnesota,”Fins, Feathers and Fur: The Of-fi cial Bulletin of the Minnesota Game and

Fish Department,Dec.1915,2–13;Minne-apolis Tribune,Dec.17,1916,B12.CopiesofDrawing and HandworkandPicture Stud-ies areintheMHSlibrary.

38.ThomasS.Roberts,“AMinnesotaSpringtimeBirdCalendar,”andHarrietS.Flagg,“WhereOtherPeopleLive,”The Min-nesotan,May1917,17–20and31–33,re-spectively;ThomasRoberts,“TheWaterBirdsofMinnesota:PastandPresent,”Bi-ennial Report of the Game and Fish Com-mission, 1918,56–91.

39.Anderson“ArtforLife’sSake,”131–33;Minneapolis Journal,Mar.28,1920,20.

40.Leaf,Love Affair With Birds,188;ThomasS.Roberts,1932pocketmemoran-dum,Oct.7entry,Robertspapers.

41.T.S.Roberts,“AreporttotheAmeri-canAssociationofMuseumsforfiscalyearendingJune30,1938,”folder242,box26,BellMuseumrecords.ThePublicWorksAd-ministrationfundedinfrastructure,includ-ingbridges,dams,hospitals,andschools.

42.Leaf,Love Affair With Birds,203.43.Roberts,1938pocketmemorandum:

May29,Aug.2(Kingman),Aug.7(Boveys),Robertspapers.

44.Anderson,“ArtforLife’sSake,”164.LakewoodCemetery,www.lakewoodcemetery.com;searchonMaryRobertstofindthelistingforMaryEmma.

45.MyrtleGrandetoThomasSadlerRoberts,June17,1925,folder190,box19,BellMuseumrecords.

The photos on p. 236 and 237 are courtesy Nancy C. Roberts; p. 238, 239, bottom,

and 240, Bell Museum of Natural History; p. 239, top, and 241, top, Minnesota

Historical Society; p. 241, bottom, by Tom Leaf, courtesy Will Hegeman; p. 242,

University of Minnesota Archives; and p. 244, Lane Phillips.


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