The following information was submitted in November of 2006 by Sara MacDonald:Frederick Sands Brunner (1886-1954) graduated from the Pennsylvania Museum & School of Industrial Art (PMSIA, now The University of the Arts College of Art and Design) in 1909 with a diploma in illustration. He attended from 1905-06 through 1908-09.

Sources include:
PMSIA annual reports and commencement programs.

Frederick Sands Brunner (son of Samuel Boyer Brunner and Anna Mary Sands) was born July 27, 1886 in Boyertown, Berks, PA, USA, and liked to draw at an early age. He left high school and worked in the Boyertown cigar factory until he earned enough money to go to art school.

In 1905, he went to Philadelphia to the School of Industrial Art and studied under Daniel Garber. Brunner graduated in 1909 with many prizes and medals. He also attended the Academy of Fine Arts and the Graphic Sketch Club.

His first job was as staff artist for the Ladies Home Journal, where for thirteen years he did pen and ink drawings of celebrities, illustrations and cover designs.

Brunner then moved on to freelance, doing cover designs for numerous magazines. He additionally designed advertisements for Coca Cola, Kelloggs, and Camel cigarettes.

During World War II, he did two Red Cross posters. He painted many portraits, among them General Carl Spatz, his old Boyertown friend; Chester Gersten, a New York banker; and George F. Tibbitts, founder of the Gospel Volunteers of the World.

F. Sands Brunner was also an artist at living. He liked to fish, ride his horse “Brighteyes,” and shoot with bow and arrow. He was very interested in American Indians.

He was married to E Sybil Speers, daughter of Thomas D Speers and Emma Sabina W Dyke.

The artist died in April 1954 at the age of 67, in Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Source: Newman Galleries and some dates provided by Genealogy website

Submitted by: Robert Savage