User:Andrewmclaughlin96/sandbox

Early Life
Wilhelmina Margaret Geddes (1887-1955) was born on her maternal grandparents farm at Drumreilly Cottage in County Leitrim, Ireland, on the 25th of May 1887. Eldest daughter of four children born to William Geddes (c.1852-1916) and his wife Eliza Jane Safford (1863-1955). The family who descended from Scotland migrated to Ireland and had been principally farmers. Her father, William, born Methodist near his father's farm at Tandagee, Co.Armagh, emigrated to America as a young man, working as a labourer for the railway construction business. This later served purpose as he worked as a site engineer at the Cavan, Leitrim and Roscommon Railway Company. Still an infant her parents moved her to their native home in Belfast, so her father could set up work as a building contractor. A plaque placed by the Ulster History Circle can be found at house in Marlborough Park South.

Geddes began drawing subjects from life and nature from the age of four. She learnt first how to draw from the school mistress in Ayrshire, where her father occasionally went shooting. She began her studies at Methodist College Belfast along with her three younger sisters. She later moved to the Belfast School of Art. Young Geddes was encouraged by distinguished sculptor from Co.Down, Rosamond Praeger, to continue with her studies. A keen interest in art led to Geddes studying over eight years at the Belfast Municipal Technical Institute. After this she was taken under Sara Purser’s wing in 1910 and invited to An Túr Gloinne, renowned stained glass studio. Wilhelmina was never married nor had any children up to her death.

1) Biography 3.1) Early life 3.2) Death & Afterward 3.3) Education 4)Personal Life 5) Published Works 5) Bibliography