Collins Family

Edna Gertrude Collins was an Austin painter known primarily for her landscapes, portraits and murals. She also taught art classes at Austin High Evening School from 1942-1960, She was born in Toronto, Canada, on April 9, 1885 to Henry Guest Collins and Helena Gertrude Anderson, prominent local musicians. As a child, she attended schools in Germany and Canada before immigrating to the United States in 1901 following her father in 1894. Edna went on to study art in Austin under Robert Hill and Allen Tucker. She also studied at the Art Students League in New York City, the Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans and at the University of Texas at Austin. She was a close associate and friend of portraitist Wayman Adams and attended the Sophie Newcomb College at the urging of his wife, Margaret Burrough Adams. The renowned Adams had begun a portrait of Collins during the last year of his life, but was unable to complete the painting due to failing health. Collins had said that she considered completing the portrait but decided against it because it would ruin the integrity of the work. Other close friends and associates in the Austin art circle were noted muralist, Kindred McLeary (1901-1949) and architect Harold Everett "Bubi" Jessen (1908-1979). During 1943-44, Collins was commissioned to paint several murals in the theaters and recreations halls of Camp Swift, where she worked with German prisoners of war to complete the project. Other mural commissions included the Texas State Capitol, the Engineer's Club and the Pioneer Drive-In. In 1945, she was asked to create a scroll to commemorate the founders of the Austin Women's Club where she also gave talks from time to time and had a one-woman exhibition in the fall of 1952. For many years, Collins worked out of her home studio located at 305 East 18th St. Edna Collins died on August 20, 1968 at the home of her sister, Rosina Guest West, in Berkeley, California.

Henry Guest Collins as born in Ossett, Yorkshire England on July 6, 1842. The son of Episcopal minister, Oliver Larry (O.L.) Collins, he originally intended to become a clergyman like his father. Due to poor eyesight, however, he went on to become a farmer and, later, a musician. He immigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1860 and then to Austin, Texas in 1894 after being offered a position as director of the music department at the Texas School for the Blind. In 1884, while still living in Toronto, the 42-year-old Collins married 18-year-old Helena Anderson, who also served on the music faculty at the School for the Blind. In 1890, Collins moved his family to Berlin, Germany for three years in order to study music and organ. In addition to serving on the music faculty at the Texas School for the Blind for 35 years, Collins was very active in Austin's music community. For 18 years, he was the organist and choirmaster for St. David's Episcopal Church. While in that capacity, he brought the first pipe organ to Austin. He also served as president of the Austin Music Teacher's Association and was an active member of the American Guild of Organists and the Texas Music Teacher's Association. Guest Collins was the author of numerous musical compositions. He died on February 12, 1929, at the age of 87, while seated in his studio preparing to give a music lesson.

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