Pre-WWII Gifted Artist In Omaha

After Growing Up In Florida, Bruce's Career And Life In The City

"Must provide deadlines, Evan's job, Aksarben Races-23 sketches".

Bruce's 1941 datebook gives us a good idea of how busy he was. He most certainly began his art career as soon as he graduated from Central High School, if not before but in 1940-41 he is overwhelmed with jobs coming his way. 

The 1940 census record shows Edwina, Bruce and Chris living at 315 South 31st Street. This part of Omaha at the time was close to downtown where Bruce worked. The home was torn down in the 1970's. It was just steps away from Turner Park which is now part of Midtown Crossing at Turner Park.

So in 1940 Edwina and Christina lived on the main level of the 31st Street home. It had a very small kitchen. Their space had a family room with a fireplace where Edwina hung one of her many ocean paintings. She had it framed at the early Omaha downtown art store, Standard Blue which is now known as Dick Blick. That painting hangs on my fireplace mantle, today, though I do sometimes hang it in my bedroom as well. Edwina slept in the main room, while Grace has fond memories of sleeping with Chris on the chaise in the sun room, Harryette slept with Edwina in the main room, possibly on a sofa bed or pullout bed. Bess Haas, a friend of Christina's rented a room on the second floor. 

Bruce had a loft, or attic apartment which gave him some privacy. He worked at an art table there near a window facing S. E. toward downtown. Grace often visited him there and had many conversations with him while he worked. He almost surely gave her some quick art lessons, as well. She recalls his model airplanes dangling from the ceiling above his drawing table. She maintains that he was always fascinated with flying.

1940 U.S. Census Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska 

Earliest photo of the home at 315 S 31st St. Originally the Bishop Williams residence. Photo from Memories.nebraska.gov

The 1940 U.S. Fremont Nebraska Census record shows Grace and Harryette living at the Masonic Home. I will be writing another blog on this subject. For now I will focus on the girls return home to 31st Street and its impact on Bruce. 

1940 U.S Census Fremont, Nebraska

"Inmates"

Grace, age 12 and Harryette, age 8 came home to 31st St. in Spring of 1941. Bruce was well immersed in his art career. No one would know the coming future that would be the start of WW2. 

In the photo I found of the home at memories.nebraska.gov you see the loft window Bruce worked at, as well as the sun room Grace and Chris would have slept in. Grace has fond memories of making fudge in the tiny kitchen. She also recalls walking to Mrs. Hart's home in the nearby neighborhood of Gifford Park. She would return with a basket of homemade lemon merange pie, Bruce's favorite.

I love this photo of Bruce walking on the streets of of 1940-41 downtown Omaha with the VP of the firm, Smith, Kaplan and Reynolds. The VP must have been impressed with Bruce.

Bruce Fleming Jepson (at right) on the street in Omaha with the VP of his ad company, Allen and Reynolds, circa 1940-41

Edwina wrote on the back of the photo of Bruce on the street, "Bruce-snapped on the street-with vice president of the firm he's contracted with"

More to come on Bruce's Advertising career pre-WWII