Mrs. Russell, Widow of Cowboy Artist, Passes in California
Mrs. Nancy Cooper Russell, 72, widow of the world-famous cowboy artist, Charles Marion Russell, died in Huntington memorial hospital at Pasadena Friday. Her body will be brought to Great Falls for funeral services. Burial probably will be beside her husband in Highland cemetery. Mrs. Russell was an invalid for about three years and had been critically ill since May 1.
She was born in Kentucky May 4, 1868, and came to Cascade in 1894. There she made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Ben R. Roberts, now of Helena. Roberts has an art shop in the Capital city, where he displays many of Russell's art works and printings.
In 1895 Nancy Cooper met Russell and in September, 1896, they were married at Cascade. After living at Cascade for a year, they moved to Great Falls. In 1900 the Russells built a home at 1219 Fourth avenue north, where they lived until Russell's death Oct. 24, 1926.
Because Russell wanted a studio to work in, he built the log cabin next door to their home in 1903. This building is now the Russell Memorial studio.
On advice of Charles Schatzlein of Butte, owner of an art store which handled many of Russell's paintings, Mrs. Russell became Russell's business manager and proved successful. She encouraged Charley in his work and traveled with him when he showed his pictures in the east.
In 1914 the Russells took 19 oil paintings to London, where they were shown in the Dore library. In 1915 his paintings were exhibited in New York, Chicago and other eastern cities. Four years later Mr. and Mrs. Russell again went east to show his paintings. In 1920 one of Charley's pictures sold for $10,000 in Los Angeles.
Mrs. Russell left here in the spring of 1927 and moved to Pasadena. She spent her later years at her home there, called "Trail's End," and at the Russell cabin, Bull's Head Lodge, on Lake McDonald in Glacier park. She spent nearly every summer at the lodge in Glacier park.
Survivors include her adopted son, Jack, of Pasadena; her father, John A. Cooper, and an uncle, both of Pasadena, and a half-sister, Mrs. Jean Ironsides, in Seward, Alaska. She was a member of the Episcopal church and had been active in local church work until she left for California.
After Russell's death she edited a volume of his correspondence, "Good Medicine." She had nearly completed his biography when she was stricken with her last illness.
"Mrs. Russell deserves the credit for putting Charlie in the limelight," Sid Willis, close friend of the noted artist and his wife, said Friday. "Up to the time of his marriage, Charlie had no idea of the worth of his paintings. Nancy was smart enough to recognize their value and to push him forward. She took his canvases into eastern cities, stopped at the finest hotels and son found art enthusiasts who were willing to pay good prices for the works of the cowboy painter."
Another tribute to Mrs. Russell was paid not long ago by William S. Hart, famous film portrayer of cowboy parts, in his biographical volume, "My Life East and West." Recounting the last time he and Charlie were together, he recited how "Charlie and Nancy Russell were in town. One could never say Charlie without saying Nancy, too, for they were always together--a real man and a real woman."
Additional info provided by Linda
Mrs. Nancy Cooper Russell, 72, widow of the world-famous cowboy artist, Charles Marion Russell, died in Huntington memorial hospital at Pasadena Friday. Her body will be brought to Great Falls for funeral services. Burial probably will be beside her husband in Highland cemetery. Mrs. Russell was an invalid for about three years and had been critically ill since May 1.
She was born in Kentucky May 4, 1868, and came to Cascade in 1894. There she made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Ben R. Roberts, now of Helena. Roberts has an art shop in the Capital city, where he displays many of Russell's art works and printings.
In 1895 Nancy Cooper met Russell and in September, 1896, they were married at Cascade. After living at Cascade for a year, they moved to Great Falls. In 1900 the Russells built a home at 1219 Fourth avenue north, where they lived until Russell's death Oct. 24, 1926.
Because Russell wanted a studio to work in, he built the log cabin next door to their home in 1903. This building is now the Russell Memorial studio.
On advice of Charles Schatzlein of Butte, owner of an art store which handled many of Russell's paintings, Mrs. Russell became Russell's business manager and proved successful. She encouraged Charley in his work and traveled with him when he showed his pictures in the east.
In 1914 the Russells took 19 oil paintings to London, where they were shown in the Dore library. In 1915 his paintings were exhibited in New York, Chicago and other eastern cities. Four years later Mr. and Mrs. Russell again went east to show his paintings. In 1920 one of Charley's pictures sold for $10,000 in Los Angeles.
Mrs. Russell left here in the spring of 1927 and moved to Pasadena. She spent her later years at her home there, called "Trail's End," and at the Russell cabin, Bull's Head Lodge, on Lake McDonald in Glacier park. She spent nearly every summer at the lodge in Glacier park.
Survivors include her adopted son, Jack, of Pasadena; her father, John A. Cooper, and an uncle, both of Pasadena, and a half-sister, Mrs. Jean Ironsides, in Seward, Alaska. She was a member of the Episcopal church and had been active in local church work until she left for California.
After Russell's death she edited a volume of his correspondence, "Good Medicine." She had nearly completed his biography when she was stricken with her last illness.
"Mrs. Russell deserves the credit for putting Charlie in the limelight," Sid Willis, close friend of the noted artist and his wife, said Friday. "Up to the time of his marriage, Charlie had no idea of the worth of his paintings. Nancy was smart enough to recognize their value and to push him forward. She took his canvases into eastern cities, stopped at the finest hotels and son found art enthusiasts who were willing to pay good prices for the works of the cowboy painter."
Another tribute to Mrs. Russell was paid not long ago by William S. Hart, famous film portrayer of cowboy parts, in his biographical volume, "My Life East and West." Recounting the last time he and Charlie were together, he recited how "Charlie and Nancy Russell were in town. One could never say Charlie without saying Nancy, too, for they were always together--a real man and a real woman."
Additional info provided by Linda
Mrs. Russell, Widow of Cowboy Artist, Passes in California
Mrs. Nancy Cooper Russell, 72, widow of the world-famous cowboy artist, Charles Marion Russell, died in Huntington memorial hospital at Pasadena Friday. Her body will be brought to Great Falls for funeral services. Burial probably will be beside her husband in Highland cemetery. Mrs. Russell was an invalid for about three years and had been critically ill since May 1.
She was born in Kentucky May 4, 1868, and came to Cascade in 1894. There she made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Ben R. Roberts, now of Helena. Roberts has an art shop in the Capital city, where he displays many of Russell's art works and printings.
In 1895 Nancy Cooper met Russell and in September, 1896, they were married at Cascade. After living at Cascade for a year, they moved to Great Falls. In 1900 the Russells built a home at 1219 Fourth avenue north, where they lived until Russell's death Oct. 24, 1926.
Because Russell wanted a studio to work in, he built the log cabin next door to their home in 1903. This building is now the Russell Memorial studio.
On advice of Charles Schatzlein of Butte, owner of an art store which handled many of Russell's paintings, Mrs. Russell became Russell's business manager and proved successful. She encouraged Charley in his work and traveled with him when he showed his pictures in the east.
In 1914 the Russells took 19 oil paintings to London, where they were shown in the Dore library. In 1915 his paintings were exhibited in New York, Chicago and other eastern cities. Four years later Mr. and Mrs. Russell again went east to show his paintings. In 1920 one of Charley's pictures sold for $10,000 in Los Angeles.
Mrs. Russell left here in the spring of 1927 and moved to Pasadena. She spent her later years at her home there, called "Trail's End," and at the Russell cabin, Bull's Head Lodge, on Lake McDonald in Glacier park. She spent nearly every summer at the lodge in Glacier park.
Survivors include her adopted son, Jack, of Pasadena; her father, John A. Cooper, and an uncle, both of Pasadena, and a half-sister, Mrs. Jean Ironsides, in Seward, Alaska. She was a member of the Episcopal church and had been active in local church work until she left for California.
After Russell's death she edited a volume of his correspondence, "Good Medicine." She had nearly completed his biography when she was stricken with her last illness.
"Mrs. Russell deserves the credit for putting Charlie in the limelight," Sid Willis, close friend of the noted artist and his wife, said Friday. "Up to the time of his marriage, Charlie had no idea of the worth of his paintings. Nancy was smart enough to recognize their value and to push him forward. She took his canvases into eastern cities, stopped at the finest hotels and son found art enthusiasts who were willing to pay good prices for the works of the cowboy painter."
Another tribute to Mrs. Russell was paid not long ago by William S. Hart, famous film portrayer of cowboy parts, in his biographical volume, "My Life East and West." Recounting the last time he and Charlie were together, he recited how "Charlie and Nancy Russell were in town. One could never say Charlie without saying Nancy, too, for they were always together--a real man and a real woman."
Additional info provided by Linda
Mrs. Nancy Cooper Russell, 72, widow of the world-famous cowboy artist, Charles Marion Russell, died in Huntington memorial hospital at Pasadena Friday. Her body will be brought to Great Falls for funeral services. Burial probably will be beside her husband in Highland cemetery. Mrs. Russell was an invalid for about three years and had been critically ill since May 1.
She was born in Kentucky May 4, 1868, and came to Cascade in 1894. There she made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Ben R. Roberts, now of Helena. Roberts has an art shop in the Capital city, where he displays many of Russell's art works and printings.
In 1895 Nancy Cooper met Russell and in September, 1896, they were married at Cascade. After living at Cascade for a year, they moved to Great Falls. In 1900 the Russells built a home at 1219 Fourth avenue north, where they lived until Russell's death Oct. 24, 1926.
Because Russell wanted a studio to work in, he built the log cabin next door to their home in 1903. This building is now the Russell Memorial studio.
On advice of Charles Schatzlein of Butte, owner of an art store which handled many of Russell's paintings, Mrs. Russell became Russell's business manager and proved successful. She encouraged Charley in his work and traveled with him when he showed his pictures in the east.
In 1914 the Russells took 19 oil paintings to London, where they were shown in the Dore library. In 1915 his paintings were exhibited in New York, Chicago and other eastern cities. Four years later Mr. and Mrs. Russell again went east to show his paintings. In 1920 one of Charley's pictures sold for $10,000 in Los Angeles.
Mrs. Russell left here in the spring of 1927 and moved to Pasadena. She spent her later years at her home there, called "Trail's End," and at the Russell cabin, Bull's Head Lodge, on Lake McDonald in Glacier park. She spent nearly every summer at the lodge in Glacier park.
Survivors include her adopted son, Jack, of Pasadena; her father, John A. Cooper, and an uncle, both of Pasadena, and a half-sister, Mrs. Jean Ironsides, in Seward, Alaska. She was a member of the Episcopal church and had been active in local church work until she left for California.
After Russell's death she edited a volume of his correspondence, "Good Medicine." She had nearly completed his biography when she was stricken with her last illness.
"Mrs. Russell deserves the credit for putting Charlie in the limelight," Sid Willis, close friend of the noted artist and his wife, said Friday. "Up to the time of his marriage, Charlie had no idea of the worth of his paintings. Nancy was smart enough to recognize their value and to push him forward. She took his canvases into eastern cities, stopped at the finest hotels and son found art enthusiasts who were willing to pay good prices for the works of the cowboy painter."
Another tribute to Mrs. Russell was paid not long ago by William S. Hart, famous film portrayer of cowboy parts, in his biographical volume, "My Life East and West." Recounting the last time he and Charlie were together, he recited how "Charlie and Nancy Russell were in town. One could never say Charlie without saying Nancy, too, for they were always together--a real man and a real woman."
Additional info provided by Linda
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