DuCasse, Micaela Martinez, 1913-1989

Micaela Martinez was born on August 26, 1913, in San Francisco, California, to Elsie Whitaker Martinez and painter Xavier Martinez. Although her father was born in Mexico, he never spoke Spanish at home and never taught her. She started drawing at the age of 3, studying with her father. At the age of 7 she expressed wanting to become a religious painter. Neither of her parents were particularly religious but she was sent to attend classes at the Catholic convent. At age 14 she enrolled in classes at California School of Arts and Crafts (now known as the California College of the Arts or CCA) in Oakland. At CCA she studied sculpture with Ralph Stackpole and showed natural talent.

From 1955 to 1978, she was a Lecturer and taught Liturgical Art classes at San Francisco College for Women at Lone Mountain.She also served as a Lecturer at Holy Names University (previously College of the Holy Names) in Oakland. She had been active in the Regional Oral History Office at the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.