ROARING 20s & Two More Girls (1920 thru 1929)

1920 photo of Marguerite (Jun 16, 1917 - Jun 18, 1993) 
and Florence (Nov 28, 1914 - Feb 27, 2001)

Dorothea Brazzel - 1920

Bill & Dora were married in the oldest Catholic church in Kansas City -- St. Patrick's, which was built in 1875, seen in this 1985 painting by George Lightfoot (Submitted by Dr. Roland Sabates) 

Bill & Dora's Marriage License --  May 21, 1920. Their ages appear to be entered incorrectly: Bill was 34 (not 33) and Dorothea was 21 (not 24).

Kansas City Star - 1921

WILL SEEK ART IN THE WEST INDIES "L.L. Balcom, formerly with the art department of The Star, and Charles A. Wilimovsky, who is connected with the Kansas City Art School, are on the way to the West Indies where they expect to find material for a landscape scene which will represent the beautiful expanse of Algiers and the colors of Venice blended together in miniature. They sailed on the Parima bound for St. Thomas. In addition to painting they expect to do some deep sea fishing. They will remain two months."

The Kansas City Post - 1921

Resulting from an earlier story about C.A. Wilimovsky's upcoming July 25 trip to the Virgin Islands, The Post reported on a letter received by the artist: "It was signed Hale T. Hendrix, Kingsville, Mo. It contained a cameo of one young man's life and aspirations for adventure... 'Now what I would like to do is to go along in any capacity you may think fit. I can handle a typewriter or swab a deck and will do anything to make myself useful to pay you for taking me along... I can run up in the flivver [automobile] for an interview at any time, and can be ready to leave at a moment's notice, should you reply favorably.' ...Mr. Wilimovsky has not yet responded to the letter."

The chest that accompanied Charles Wilimovsky on his journey to the West Indies. The Baggage Label shows the date for the trip back to New York as September 14, 1921, two months after his working vacation began on July 25.

Exhibition at the Kansas City Art Institute following Wilimovsky's Virgin Islands voyage, 1922

Entrance to Harbor-Master's House, St. Thomas - Drypoint Etching, 1922

Harbor-Master's Balcony, Virgin Islands - Linoleum Cut, 1922

Blackbeard's Castle, Virgin Islands - Linoleum Cut, 1922

At the Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City Star - June 21, 1922 -- WILIMOVSKY TO QUIT SCHOOL -- Disagreement Over Teaching Methods Given as Cause

Charles A. Wilimovsky, for eight years head of the department of drawing and painting at the Kansas City Art Institute, resigned the position today. He will continue at the school until October 1, when his present term expires.

Mr. Wilimovsky said today that his reason for refusing to sign the contract offered him for next year centered about questions of ethics in the conduct of his classes.

"My resignation is final," said Mr. Wilimovsky, "in view of the wide difference between my views of art and the conduct of art classes, and those of the director of the institute. It would inevitably lead to friction. I have a deep affection for Kansas City and Kansas City's splendid ideals as expressed in her memorial plan, and for the institute, in which I have done my best to develop the fine art talent that has come to me."

Jain Wilimovsky's Birth Certificate - December 6, 1922
Although this document shows that Bill & Dora's 1st daughter was born as "Jane," she eventually changed the spelling to "Jain" to make it unique. She was annoyed by the common phrase going around in her time: "Plain Jane."

First appearance of Tarzan & Jane: The All-Story, October, 1912.
Right: First Canadian edition of Tarzan of the Apes, 1914.

I haven't heard about the origin of Bill & Dorothea's first child's name. But in the early 1900s, the most well-known use of "Jane" was as Tarzan's mate, Jane Porter (later known as Jane Clayton), in the adventure stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs that were first seen in magazines in 1912, then published as novels starting in 1914.

The most enduring memory of these characters comes from the films starring Johnny Weissmuller, a world champion swimmer who won five gold medals in the 1924 & 1928 Olympic Games.

"Tarzan and His Mate" 1934

Johnny Weissmuller & Maureen O'Sullivan

The Artist and his Wife Painting - 1923

This enchanting scene portrays a woman painting beside a lake. The model is probably Dorothea, and the note on the back (see below) suggests that she persuaded Bill not to give the painting away as a gift to friends. 1920s, Oil on Canvas 21.5" x 17.5"

Bill and daughters Marguerite, Florence & Jain, with Dr. William Thompson (Marguerite Thompson's father) - Chicago 1924

Bill's older brother, Joseph Charles Wilimovsky (1882 - 1976)

Urbana Daily Courier (Urbana, Illinois) - March 3, 1925 - Chicago (United Press): Four automobile bandits today tied up Joseph Wilimovsky, jeweler, one clerk and two customers and escaped with $10,000 in jewelry [in 2014 dollars, this is equal to $135,135]. Scores of persons passed the west side shop as robbery was in progress.

At the Art Institute, Chicago - Winter 1925

Dappled Woods - 11" x 12 3/4"

Dwellings Near Taos, New Mexico - 12 1/2" x 9 3/4"

Morning Star, Rockford, Illinois - Sunday, August 5, 1928 -- Summer Shows Are Being Exhibited At Chicago Institute: Summer shows which now may be seen at the Chicago Art Insitute are as follows: paintings by Karl A. Buehr, Paul Trebilock, J. Theodore Johnson, John A. Spelman, Charles A. Wilimovsky, Francis Chapin and Carl Wuermer...

Hillside Trees - 22 1/4" x 26 1/2"

... Wilimovsky's paintings are landscapes of Wisconsin, some made in the wonderful Wisconsin woods, in the Menominee Indian reservation, which fortunately remains untouched by the hands of the greedy lumberman. Others are of the Indian country around Taos, N.M. Mr. Wilimovsky also shows a group of wood block prints in the entrance corridor, containing scenes in the Virgin Islands, New Orleans, Wisconsin, the Fox river valley, the Apostle islands, and in New Mexico.

Balcony, New Orleans

Ranch House Near Taos, N.M. - 9 1/2" x 7 1/2"

Hotel, New Orleans - 9 1/2" x 7 1/2"

The Four Wilimovsky Girls

Jain & Charmian - from Dorothea Brazzel,

Marguerite & Florence - from Marguerite Thompson.

Note on the Back: "Taken at Jackson Park [Chicago] Aug 28, 1928"

Florence Dorothea Wilimovsky

Note on Back by the Artist:
"M. Charmian Wilimovsky 9 mo. 1 week Chi Ill."

Charmian & Jack London
in Hawaii, 1915

It is interesting to consider the origin of each child's name. Their first girl was most likely named for Florence, Italy, where Bill & Margie first met. Of course, Marguerite was named after her mother.

The daughters of Bill and Dorothea were Jain (probably inspired by the Tarzan books) and Charmian, usually shortened to Charm, was also connected to another writer of adventure stories.

Charmian (often misread as "Chairman") was the name of Cleopatra's handmaiden & advisor at the time of her death. But most significantly, it is the name of the second wife of Jack London, a popular author at the turn of the 20th century. He is best known for his novel "The Call of the Wild" published in 1903.

Wilimovsky's Daughters in 1929: Florence, Charmian, Marguerite, Jain
(Babka Photo Studio, Cicero, Illinois, USA) 

Florence Wilimovsky - 1929

Florence - April 1929

See the Next Part of the Story: 1930 thru 1939 
To See the Previous Decades, Go To: 1900 thru 1919