BIOGRAPHY: ELEANOR (O’Neil) HARPER (1920-2006)

Eleanor Harper was raised in Belmont, Massachusetts, and graduated with an AB degree in fine art with honors from Radcliff College in 1941.  She also studied at the School of Practical Art, at the DeCordova Museum and with artist/teacher Betty Lou Schlemm.

She was a member of the Rockport Art Association, the North Shore Art Association, the Guild of Boston Artists, the Hudson Valley Art Association and the Academic Artists Association. She was the recipient of 18 painting awards from her many association exhibits.  She also exhibited at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio, Salmagundi Club, National Arts Club, Allied Artists and at Boston City Hall, North Shore Music Circus (Massachusetts) and at Boston Symphony Hall.

Harper painted landscapes, still lives, marine life scenes around Cape Ann and Rockport, MA, where she lived, and portraits, the most notable of which was one of Matina Horner, the former president of Radcliffe College.  Her works are in private and corporate collections, at Radcliffe College and the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA.

She is listed in Who’s Who in American Art (American Federation of Arts); Who’s Who of American Woman (by John Leonard) and Marquis’ Who is Who in the East.

Submitted: Sheila Mennell

Sources include: 

Who’s Who in American Art
Boston Globe May 28, 2006