Louise Lincoln Kerr Cultural Center

Louise Lincoln Kerr was born April 25, 1892 in Ohio. She was the eldest child of John C. Lincoln, founder of the Lincoln Electric Company and one of America’s greatest inventors. At a young age, Louise, became very fond of music. She studied music in New York City and attended Barnard College and Columbia University.

Throughout her life, Louise Kerr had a dream – to create an artist colony where established and emerging musicians, artists and writers could come together, practice their craft and learn from each other. In the late 1940s, the first colony structure was built in Scottsdale, a spacious five–room adobe home where she lived. Eventually, a performance hall, dubbed “The Studio”, began to take shape. Adorned with a tile roof, massive hand–hewn beams, hand–forged wrought–iron chandeliers and railings, and beautifully crafted handmade doors and bookcases (made by Mrs. Kerr’s friend, Tucson artist Charles W. Bolsius); the two adobe buildings reflected the classic Southwestern architectural style Mrs. Kerr had grown to admire.

Mrs. Kerr died December 10, 1977 in Cottonwood, Arizona at her beloved ranch, which is now the home and studio of her friend, artist John Waddell. Her death was noted in papers throughout the state with such headlines as “She Also Pioneered“, “Patron of the Arts”, “Music Loses a Friend” and “Grand Lady of Music”.