Hildreth Meiere always wanted to be an artist. She was born in San Francisco and studied at the California Institute for the Arts. Her mother took her to Italy in 1911; she was inspired by the frescoed walls. She moved to New York and studied at the Arts Student League. She was an unmistakable New York blue blood, invariably photographed in her ever-present pearls. She was active in many cultural organizations. She was the 1st VP of the Architectural League for six terms, received its gold medal in Mural Painting, Director of the Municipal Art Society, 1st Woman on the NY City Art Commission and received the 1956 Fine Arts Medal of the National AIA. Oddly enough her first job was the dome for the Great Hall of the Nebraska State Capitol with Bertram Goodhue. Always the Blue Blood, she was known for wearing pearls. She executed more than 100 commissions during her career. Very witty and engaging she enjoyed attending many events ranging from lectures to boxing matches. Invited to a black-tie dinner of the New York City Arts Commission as its first female member, “she wore a black tie,” Ms. Dunn said, “with the lowest-cut long black evening dress.”
