St. Augustine’s historic backdrop and rich history have long served to draw the attention of artists. The Ancient City showcases the works of local, national, and even international artists. One of the most notable local artists whose paintings are displayed across town and beyond is Jean Wagner Willhite Troemel.
Troemel was born in Alma, Michigan on May 4th, 1921. She spent her childhood and early adulthood in Alma, Michigan; Asheville, North Carolina; and West Palm Beach, Florida. She attended the Norton School of Art while in West Palm Beach. Additionally, she studied at The National Cathedral School in Washington D.C.; The Art Students League & National Academy of Design in New York; and the University of New Mexico. After her formal training, Troemel founded the Ridge Art Association in 1950 in Winter Haven, Florida. In 1969, Troemel and her husband, Ben, relocated to St. Augustine following his transfer to Naval Station Mayport.
As the art scene began to flourish throughout St. Augustine during the 1970s, Troemel’s influence remained strong. She became an art instructor at The Jacksonville Art Museum as well as Flagler College. Troemel also became a member of the Florida Artists Group and served as its president in 1975, 1976 and 1996 respectively. In 1982, she opened the P.A.S.T.A Gallery (Professional Artists of St. Augustine) on Charlotte Street, which still exists today. Troemel’s works soon began to garner attention outside of Florida. In fact, she received several major national and international awards, including a listing on the prestigious “World’s Who’s Who of Women,” a listing that she maintained for fifteen years.
While Troemel was widely known for her success in the fine arts world, friends and family knew a different side of her – one displayed in a collection of holiday cards. Here at the St. Augustine Historical Society Research Library (SAHSRL), we hold a collection of homemade Christmas cards Troemel and her husband Ben would send out to close clients, friends, and family. When examining the Christmas Cards closely, it is evident that Troemel would hand-draw a design primarily in pen before coloring in the drawings with either marker and/or a hint of water color paint. According to the credits provided on some of the cards, Ben Troemel would then either write a holiday-spirited poem or discuss the year’s travels with little anecdotes or stories of their time seeing different parts of the world. Some of the places they traveled to included Mexico, China, and Switzerland. Based on what we have within the collection, the Troemels were creating these Christmas Cards starting in the 1970s, a tradition that lasted into the 2000s.
These homemade Christmas cards from a renowned local artist and her family reinforce the idea that creating art can be meaningful and impact those around you. These cards demonstrate Troemel’s love and appreciation for friends, family, and colleagues; serving as a reminder of what the holiday season is all about. Happy Holidays and Warmest Wishes from SAHS!
Written by: Shelby Fox, Information Specialist
Edited by: Robert Covert, Collections Manager & Editor-in-Chief
Sources:
SAHS Manuscript Collection; Jean Troemel Papers MC141
A handful of the Troemel Christmas Cards.