Mr. Brainerd B. Thresher

Born in Dayton, Ohio in 1870, died on 18 November 1950

Brainerd Bliss Thresher is a name that keeps surfacing in documents from the early history of the Dayton Art Institute (DAI). A graduate of Denison University and an early patron of the arts in Dayton, B.B. Thresher was also an artist himself.

In 1902, The Dayton Society of Arts and Crafts was formed by B.B. Thresher and his mother, Mrs. J.B. Thresher. Classes were taught in a building at the corner of Second and Main Street. Mr. Thresher worked in metal, wood and ivory and created many beautiful pieces of jewellery, screens and frames. He was influenced by Edward Colonna and this is evident in Thresher's work.

Through extensive travels to Asia, Mr. Thresher began collecting art objects. Together with a few other Dayton collectors, they began holding exhibitions at Memorial Hall. As the art movement in Dayton began to take hold, serious thought was given to a permanent building to house a collection and provide exhibition space.

In January 1920, the Dayton Museum of Arts [later renamed The Dayton Art Institute] opened to the public. This renovated building on the corner of Monument and St. Clair was a collaborative effort between art patrons and artists themselves. Both museum and art school coexisted under the same roof. B.B. Thresher continued to give his time to lecture and support various exhibitions at the museum. One of his most important contributions was the idea of the Circulating Gallery program. Mr. Thresher put tremendous effort into getting support from well-known galleries and artists in New York to lend to our gallery. B.B. Thresher served the DAI as board member, docent, and patron until his death in 1950.

Mr. Thresher kept journals of his travels to collect artwork and these have been reproduced by his family and bound into four volumes. These are in the DAI's library, as well as photographs of some of his own artistic creations.

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Brainerd Bliss Thresher

b. 1870 d. 11/18/1950 Age. 81 Birthplace: Dayton, OH

Residence: 128 W. 1st St.

References:

Who’s Who in American Art 1974-1975, 1985

Ohio Artists

Parents:

Joseph B. Thresher b.1836 d.2/20/1920 Age 84 Birthplace: CT

Sara (Bliss) Thresher d. 8/28/1932 Age 92 Birthplace: Zanesville, OH

Grandparents:

Ebenezer Thresher

Uncles: (Joseph B. Thresher’s Brothers):

E. M. Thresher (Lydia) – one son, Alfred (B.B.’s cousin) – 127 W. Monument Ave

Albert Thresher (Jennie K.) - 41 N. Perry St.

Joseph, E.M. & Albert owned the Thresher Varnish Company on 863 E. Monument Ave.

Joseph was President, E.M. was VP, & Albert was Secretary and Treasurer.

B.B.’s Wife: Mary Colby Thresher

Her parents were: Henry Francis Colby & Mary Lizzie (Chamberlain) Colby

Children:

Brainerd Alden Thresher

b. 5/17/1896 d. 1/1984 Age. 87

SS# 013-26-0479

Director of Admissions at MIT 1936-1961

Chairman of College Entrance Exams 1958-1960

MIT graduate, Masters from Harvard

Last Residence was 1111 S. Lakemount Ave. Winter Park, FL (Orange County)

Who’s Who in America vol. 8 1982-1985

Marquis Who’s Who 1985

Blue Book 1976 Edition

Contemporary Authors Vol. 111 1984

Biography Index vol. 13 9/1982-8/1984

Sylvia B. (Thresher) Haas (QUESTIONED, married to Frank Grebe)

b. 8/11/1907 d. 2/14/1974

SS# 275-28-4700

Married Florian F. Haas, a machinist, in 1933,1934, or 1935.

They resided at 46 Baltimore in Dayton

Mariel C. Thresher

b. 5/21/01 d. 1/1978 in Lucasville, OH.

Grandchildren:

Brainerd Alden’s children:

Sonia Richardson of Winter Park, FL

Rosemary Edson of Santa Ana, CA

B. Colby Thresher of Sinsbury, CT

Brainerd Bliss has 13 great-grandchildren through Brainerd Alden and 9 great, great-grandchildren

3/28/02 mdw

C:Research/thresher brainerd bliss.doc