Anna Marie Valentien (Mrs. Albert R. Valentien)*
b. Cincinnati, Ohio February 27, 1862 ?d. San Diego, California August 25, 1947

Anna’s parents, Karl and Magdalene Bookprinter, emigrated from Germany in 1848, Settling in Cincinnati. Initially studying at the McMichen University School of Design, Anna later worked with the woodcarver Benn Pitman. In 1884, she accepted a position with the Rookwood Pottery and there she met Albert Valentien whom she married in 1887. While working for Rookwood, she continued her studies at the Cincinnati Art Academy where her instructors included Frank Duveneck. She also studied sculpture under Louis T. Rebizzo, and had Solon Borglum as a classmate.

For the Chicago exposition of 1893, Anna mod...