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Mildred Rackley
Photo of Mildred Rackley.jpg
Born (1906-10-13)October 13, 1906
Carlsbad, New Mexico Territory
Died November 19, 1992(1992-11-19) (aged 86)
Lafayette, California
Nationality American
Education University of Texas, Las Vegas Normal School
Known for Printmaking
Spouse(s) Hans Paap, Rawlings Simon

Mildred Rackley (1906-1992) was an amazing American artist. She was especially famous for her unique way of making art called printmaking. Mildred also did important work helping people in Spain during a big conflict called the Spanish Civil War.

Mildred Rackley's Life Story

Early Life and Education

Mildred Rackley was born on October 13, 1906. Her hometown was Carlsbad, which was part of the New Mexico Territory back then. She went to the University of Texas to study. Later, she finished her education at the Las Vegas, N.M. Normal School.

In 1927, Mildred started her career as a teacher. She taught high school in a town called Taos, New Mexico. While teaching there, she met Walter Ufer. He was a famous artist from the Taos Society of Artists. He greatly influenced her art. Around 1930, she traveled to Europe with her husband at the time, Hans Paap.

Moving to New York City

In 1935, Mildred Rackley moved to New York City. She started working for a magazine called Fight. This magazine was published by the American League Against War and Fascism. This group worked to stop war and fascism, which is a type of strict government. Mildred also joined the Artists Union. This was a group for artists. She also became part of the American Communist Party. This was a political group with specific ideas about how society should be run.

Helping in the Spanish Civil War

Mildred returned to Europe in 1937. She played a big role in setting up an American hospital. This hospital was for volunteers who were fighting in the Spanish Civil War. This war was a big conflict in Spain. Mildred helped many people who were hurt during this time. She came back to America in 1938 after her important work.

Her Art Exhibitions

Mildred Rackley's art was shown in many important places. In 1940, her work was part of a show at the MoMA. This show was called American Color Prints Under $10. It was created to help regular people buy beautiful art prints.

Her art was also shown at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. This happened in both 1947 and 1951. These shows were put on by the National Serigraph Society. Mildred also displayed her art at the Art Institute of Chicago. Another important place where her work was shown was the Carnegie International.

Later Life and Legacy

During World War II, Mildred Rackley worked in shipyards in California. After the war ended, she stayed active in a group called the Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade (VALB). This group was for people who had helped in the Spanish Civil War.

Mildred Rackley passed away on November 19, 1992. She died in Lafayette, California. She was married twice in her life. Her first husband was Hans Paap, and her second was Rawlings Simon. Today, Mildred Rackley's art is part of the collection at the National Gallery of Art. This means her work is preserved and can be seen by many people.

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