Dates

• Existence: 1861 - 1943

biographical statement

Citation:

Timeline by Curator Andrea Moody: 1861: Born Abby Rhoda Williams in Grinnell, Iowa. Taught art as a child. 1882: Travels to Chicago to study art with H.F. Spread, founder of Chicago Art Institute. 1884: Engaged to Frank Hill. Studies German. 1884-1886: Teaches art at girls’ school in Quebec. Studies French. Paints the St. Lawrence River and areas of Vermont. 1888: Joins Art Students’ League in New York, studying with Merritt Chase. Marries Hill, who has become a medical doctor. 1889: Moves with husband to Tacoma. Washington becomes the 42nd state. First son born, partially paralyzed. 1895: Makes camping expeditions to Mount Rainier, Hood Canal. Leaves son with relatives and travels with husband to Europe to study art. 1897: Returns to America, living in Tacoma’s Chamber of Commerce building. 1889: Eulalie adopted, age 9. 1899: Ione adopted, age 10. Hill begins camping and painting with her children. 1901: Was a foster parent to Ina, who was later adopted. Hill travels with children to the South and West. 1903-1906: Hill receives commissions from Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railway companies to paint the Northwest for their advertisements. 1906-1911: Hill becomes president of Congress of Mothers (first PTA). 1908: Travels with children to Europe. 1909: Her husband has mental breakdown in Europe; family returns to Tacoma. 1910: Hill takes husband to California to recuperate. 1924: With her husband’s health improved, Hill camps and paints with family through South, West, Canadian Rockies. 1931: Her husband admitted into a mental institution, and Hill moves to San Diego. 1938: Her husband dies. Hill becomes exhausted and bedridden. 1943: Hill dies on May 14 in San Diego at age 81.

Found in 1 Collection or Record: