JO LUTZ ROLLINS:

Josephine Lutz Rollins was born July 21, 1896 in Sherburn, Minnesota, the first daughter of John Joseph Lutz (1855-1907) and Shella Wheeler Lutz (1867-1922). The family included children Marjorie (1897-1968), Anne (1899-1977), Dorothy (1902-1965), and Esther (1905).

Jo spent her early childhood in southern Minnesota where her father served as a Methodist minister. She graduated from Redwood Falls High School in 1915 and attended Cornell College (Mount Vernon, Iowa). After spending three years there, she went to work in Washington, D.C. After her return to Minneapolis, she attended the University of Minnesota, from which she earned a B.A. in 1920 and an M.A. in 1930. During this time she attended the Minneapolis School of Art and the Corcoran Gallery and School of Art in Washington, D.C. She later studied at the Hans Hoffman School in Munich, Germany (1930).

After graduation she taught art in the Duluth High School, taught handicrafts to war veterans, and painted murals. In 1927 she began teaching in the art department at the University of Minnesota, whence she retired in 1965 as an associate professor.

From 1934 to 1950 she was co-sponsor and director of the Stillwater Art Colony. In 1964 she co-founded with five other women the West Lake Gallery in Minneapolis where they sponsored shows and sold their paintings. The gallery closed in 1984. Rollins became known for her work in watercolors of historic houses and sites. She was instrumental in the development of the Stillwater bicentennial art project (1975-1976), which documented many houses and sites in the Stillwater area.

Jo Lutz Rollins traveled extensively and used these experiences later in her work. She married Richard Rollins in 1945. She died March, 1989 in Minneapolis.

John Joseph (Joe) Lutz was born in Smithville, Ohio in 1855, the son of Jacob and Anna (Musser) Lutz. He came to Minnesota in 1885, but his letters do not begin until 1894 from Fairfax, Minnesota. His ministry continued until 1909 when he died in Redwood Falls, Minnesota.

Shella Viola Wheeler was born near Faribault, Minnesota in 1867, the daughter of Sheldon and Margaret (Birdsall) Wheeler. She received her education in St. Peter and Minneapolis. She married Joe Lutz December 31, 1894.

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Subject files document the Minnesota Artists Association (1892-1986), Stillwater Art Colony (1930s), Stillwater Bicentennial Art Project (1975-1976), inventories and sales of her paintings (1968-1982), and a few of her sketches and Christmas cards. Correspondence of her father and mother, Joseph and Shella Lutz (1894-1907), relate to his work as a Methodist minister in southern Minnesota. The letters relate his work in seven churches; his marriage to Shella Wheeler; his personal experiences with his congregations; his attendance at district conferences; his interest in family history; his examination studies for the ministry; and the exchange of pulpits by ministers of Protestant denominations.

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Jo Lutz Rollins and Family Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 12,706; 13,519; 14,203; 14,233; 14,605

Processing Information:

Processed by: Bonnie Beatson Palmquist, September 1990.

Catalog ID number: 990017134430104294

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An oral history interview with Rollins can be found in the Sound and Visual Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society.

Art works by Jo Lutz Rollins can be found in the Minnesota Historical Society's Art Collection.

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

Art -- Minnesota -- Catalogs.

Art -- Minnesota -- Exhibitions.

Artists as teachers -- Minnesota.

Artists' preparatory studies -- Minnesota.

Children of clergy -- Minnesota.

Clergy -- Relocation -- Minnesota.

Historic buildings -- Minnesota.

Methodist Episcopal Church -- Minnesota.

Rural clergy -- Minnesota.

Spouses of clergy -- Minnesota.

Watercolor painting -- Minnesota.

Women art teachers -- Minnesota.

Women painters -- Minnesota.

Persons:

Lutz family.

Lutz, John J. (John Joseph), 1855-1909, author.

Lutz, Lizzie, author.

Lutz, Shella Wheeler, 1867-1922, author.

Wheeler family.

Organizations:

Minnesota Artists Association.

Stillwater Art Colony (Minn.)

Stillwater Bicentennial Art Project.

Places:

Fairfax (Minn.) -- Social life and customs.

Fort Ridgley (Minn.)

Sherburn (Minn.) -- Social life and customs.

Woodstock (Minn.) -- Social life and customs.

Woodstock (Ohio) -- Social life and customs.

Document Types:

Artists' sketchbooks.

Catalogs.

Diaries.

Exhibition catalogs.

Genealogies.

Photographs.

Occupations:

Clergy.

Painters.

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