My great-grandfather, Jess Betlach, was an artist and a commercial illustrator in the first half of the 20th Century.He was born in St. Paul, MN, on August 28, 1883. He is of Bohemian ancestry – both parents came here from Prague, Bohemia, in the late 1880’s.

Betlach studied at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts in Minneapolis, MN. He was a member of the historic Attic Club which met twice a week at the Handicraft Building located at 89 South 10th Street in Minneapolis. You may know this building because the Hell’s Kitchen Restaurant got its start on the main floor of this building. The Attic Club consisted of local artists that met each week to paint the models that they hired. They were know for lavish costume parties and a variety of art shows.

Betlach did illustrations for the advertisements of many different businesses and groups including the Donaldson’s Department Store, Knorr’s Dairy Company, Amenia Honey, McPhail School of Music, Barrington Hall Coffee, Northwest Mutual Savings and Loan Association, Paris Chocolate Factory, Soo Line Railroad and the Northland Knitting Co.

Betlach is known nationally for painting the Indian Maiden for the Land O’Lakes Company in 1939. Her image has lasted for over 70 years with only minor changes! Land O’Lakes still own the original painting of the Indian Maiden and have it in their vault in St. Paul, MN. My mother and I were so pleased to be invited to Land O’Lakes to see the original painting.

Betlach also did a lot of work for the Weyerhauser Lumber Company. He did illustrations for some local magazines in the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s including Ideals, The Friends and Christmas – the annual of Christmas Literature and Art.

Many of the paintings he created with the Attic Club were passed on to my mother, Connie Betlach Cleary, as well as other members of the family. Some of Jess’ paintings are available for viewing and for purchase here.

Amy & her mom, Connie Betlach Cleary