Gladys Irene Champney Papers

Gladys Irene Champney, long-time Oberlin resident and local artist, was born August 8, 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. Gladys 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 Gladys 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 Champney was employed from 1920-1922 in the accounting department at Ohio Bell Telephone Co., in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1922, Gladys 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, Gladys returned to Cleveland to teach art at the William H, Brett School. Once again, from 1929-1931,  she 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 gifted students in the Cleveland Public Schools. She retired in 1958.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Gladys studied with two contemporary artists, 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. They lived together in the Elm Street apartment until Erma's death in 1972. Gladys continued to live in this apartment until 1989, when she moved into a nursing home.

Most of the artwork of Gladys 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. 

Sylvia Champney Johnson, Gladys' 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. She made posters, banners and advent wreaths for the church. Champney never married; her but she was passionate about her art 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.

Note written by Tara Ikenouye.