Florence Bartley Smithburn (1904-1989)

Educated at John Herron School of Art, Florence taught art at Arsenal Tech High School, on the east side of Indianapolis, in the late 1920s. She continued her art training at Grand Central Art School and the Arts Students League in New York City, where she also served on the board.

She traveled to Africa with her husband, Dr. Kenneth Smithburn (buried in Crown Hill Cemetery) to conduct research on malaria; for 10 years, she would also paint the scenery and their experiences along the way. She also created maps to illustrate their scientific publications.

Her artwork has been exhibited around the United States, and she won awards from the Indiana State Fair and the Hoosier Salon.

“Congo Dance” (1940) by Florence Smithburn. The painting is part of the collections at Newfields in Indianapolis.
Florence Bartley Smithburn is buried in Section 212, Lot 590.