Lela Powers Briggs (1896-1953) -- student

Born in the small Iowa town (Powersville) founded by her grandfather, Lela Powers was the daughter of Leonard J. Powers, a local businessman who founded Powers Manufacturing Company in 1902, headquartered in Waterloo, Iowa, where Lela spent her childhood. Gifted in sketching and drawing, the young artist frequently signed her early creations, and while enrolled at East High School (1911-1915), served as an art editor for both the yearbook and school’s literary magazine. Following graduation, Powers attended the Art Institute of Chicago (1915-1916, 1917-1918) and had her studies briefly interrupted by a serious illness that forced her to return to Iowa. While recovering, Powers continued her studies at Iowa State Teacher’s College (the University of Northern Iowa), enrolled for the spring semester in 1917. Lela married Wilbur Briggs in July 1918, and the couple made their home in Waterloo while both were employed with Powers Manufacturing. Lela’s particular talents and responsibility created both the covers and illustrations for the company’s catalogs during the next thirty years. Determined to continue her art training while raising two young sons, Briggs completed a commercial design correspondence course offered by the Federal School in Minneapolis (1926); she was also a founding member of the Waterloo Art Association (1932). The latter organization afforded her the opportunity to build a lifelong friendship with Nellie Gebers, a Lincoln, Iowa artist, well-known for paintings of rural landscapes.