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This is a contributing entry for Shaping Kearney's Landscape and only appears as part of that tour.Learn More.
The Anderson Sisters are the daughters of the well-known local photographer, A.T. Anderson. Alfred Anderson is known for capturing the booming period of Kearney's history. Due to his failing eyesight, Miriam (one of his daughters) took over and ran his photography studio until 1944. Taking after their father, Alfred's daughters Miriam (Mim), Ruth, and Elizabeth also worked in the fine arts, including painting, photography, and foreign languages. The sisters grew up in this home, and both Miriam and Elizabeth lived here in their later years.

Shoemaker, finishing the clog, shaving with the blade, Ramil (Lugo) January 1925 by Ruth Anderson

Photograph by Ruth Anderson

Ruth Matilda Anderson reading on the balcony of the inn, Oseira (Orense) June 1925

Picture of Ruth Anderson

Caixa Galicia, by Ruth Anderson

Photo by Ruth Anderson

Untitled (landscape) watercolor by Mim Anderson

River scene by Mim Anderson

Untitled (river and road) 1969 oil on board by Mim Anderson

Landscape painting by Mim Anderson

Miriam "Mim" Anderson Worlock

An image of Miriam Anderson in her later years

Ruth Matilda Anderson was an American photographer who traveled abroad in the 1920s to document Spanish culture. Ruth worked for the Hispanic Society of America. During her travels she took over 10,000 images of Spanish people, places and genre scenes such as people at work, doing chores, children playing, and holiday customs. Alfred accompanied Ruth on her first trip to Spain. They toured in a Ford, and also traveled by horses, boats and 'on foot.' Ruth focused on the study of Spanish costumes, making several more trips to Spain in search of related information and photographic images. In 1954, she was appointed Curator of Costumes of the Hispanic Society Museum and Library.

Miriam Anderson Worlock was described as a "Kearney woman who can sing, paint, take photographs, ride horses, climb mountains and is an expert at baking bread." Miriam successfully pursued her talent for landscape and still life painting as well as ink drawing. She is the first Kearney artist to have her work included in the Nebraska Art Collection and some of her art is still held in the collections of the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney today.

Elizabeth Theodora Uldall was an American linguist and phonetician. Elizabeth taught at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. She produced some of the earliest video recordings of vibrating vocal folds, using herself as a subject. Elizabeth also worked on the intonation and rhythm of African languages.

All three sisters had pride in their hometown of Kearney, NE. Ruth, Miriam, and Elizabeth obtained many of the skills that they used to follow their passions in the arts from their parents, Alma Matilda (described as a "quiet, artistic" woman who liked to paint) and Alfred T. Anderson (a local photographer and an "energetic, talented man"). Miriam stayed in Kearney for the remainder of her life and taught Latin and Music while continuing to run the photography business. Later in their lives Elizabeth and Miriam stayed in Kearney NE. Ruth stayed in New York. All three are buried in the Kearney Cemetery.

Wielechowski, Katherine. The Photography of A.T. Anderson, December 7th 2014. Accessed December 7th 2020. http://www.bchs.us/BTTales/BTMayJune2014.pdf.

Dunbier, Lonnie Pierson. Ruth Matilda Anderson, Mona Museum of Nebraska Art. Accessed December 7th 2020. https://mona.unk.edu/mona/ruth-matilda-anderson/.

Dunbier, Lonnie Pierson. Miriam (Mim) Anderson, Mona Museum of Nebraska Art. January 1st 2016. Accessed December 7th 2020. https://mona.unk.edu/mona/miriam-mim-anderson-worlock/.

Wikipedia. Elizabeth T. Uldall, Wikipedia. September 12th 2020. Accessed December 7th 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_T._Uldall.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

https://latemeraria.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/1274/

https://latemeraria.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/1274/

https://es.paperblog.com/ruth-matilda-anderson-y-los-ninos-descalzos-30509/

https://mona.unk.edu/mona/miriam-worlock-mona-collection/

https://mona.unk.edu/mona/miriam-worlock-mona-collection/

https://www.askart.com/artist/Miriam_Mim_Anderson_Worlock/11282226/Miriam_Mim_Anderson_Worlock.aspx