William "Bill" Sterling Jenkins
Dublin Core
Title
William "Bill" Sterling Jenkins
Alternative Title
Bill Jenkins
Subject
Jenkins, Bill (William Sterling), 1909-1996
Artists--Florida
Art--Southern States
Silversmiths--Southern States
Silversmithing
Winter Park (Fla.)
Orlando (Fla.)
Creald้ฉ School of Art
Description
William "Bill" Sterling Jenkins traveled the world, built and prospered in many different careers, recorded his travels and experiences in his paintings, and made a permanent impact on the Central Florida community.
Jenkins received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1934 from the University of Florida and was awarded a postgraduate scholarship to study art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. He spent several intensive years traveling through Europe by rail and bicycle, creating figure and landscape paintings. Upon his return, he established an art school in Columbus, Georgia. In 1942, he married Alice Moberg after meeting her in Mexico, where he studied silversmithing. Following a brief stint in the U.S. Army, Jenkins received an honorable discharge after contracting pneumonia and was sent to the Veterans Administration hospital in Orlando, Florida, to recuperate. He then worked for the VA and pioneered a program of rehabilitative art therapy classes for veterans.
After earning his master's degree in psychology from Florida State University in 1950, he settled in Winter Park and established Jenkins Construction Company, building many residential communities and shopping centers. In 1975, Jenkins established Creald้ฉ School of Art, donating the organization and the property to the community in 1990. He also established the Jenkins Chair at the University of Central Florida, and donated the majority of his paintings to the UCF Art Gallery.
Jenkins received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1934 from the University of Florida and was awarded a postgraduate scholarship to study art at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy. He spent several intensive years traveling through Europe by rail and bicycle, creating figure and landscape paintings. Upon his return, he established an art school in Columbus, Georgia. In 1942, he married Alice Moberg after meeting her in Mexico, where he studied silversmithing. Following a brief stint in the U.S. Army, Jenkins received an honorable discharge after contracting pneumonia and was sent to the Veterans Administration hospital in Orlando, Florida, to recuperate. He then worked for the VA and pioneered a program of rehabilitative art therapy classes for veterans.
After earning his master's degree in psychology from Florida State University in 1950, he settled in Winter Park and established Jenkins Construction Company, building many residential communities and shopping centers. In 1975, Jenkins established Creald้ฉ School of Art, donating the organization and the property to the community in 1990. He also established the Jenkins Chair at the University of Central Florida, and donated the majority of his paintings to the UCF Art Gallery.
Creator
Lang, Rick
Source
Original black and white photograph by Rick Lang: Crealdé School of Art, Winter Park, Florida.
Date Created
ca. 1909-1996
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original black and white photograph by Rick Lang.
Is Part Of
Crealdé School of Art, Winter Park, Florida..
Art Legends of Orange County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
226 KB
Medium
1 black and white photograph
Language
eng
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Preston, Georgia
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Florence, Tuscany, Italy
Columbus, Georgia
Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
Crealdé School of Art, Winter Park, Florida
UCF Art Gallery, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by the Crealdé School of Art and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Curator
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
Source Repository
External Reference
"William Jenkins (1910-1996): Founder of Crealdé School of Art." Olin Library, Rollins College. http://lib.rollins.edu/olin/oldsite/archives/golden/jenkins.htm.
Shields, Gerard. "Remembering Jenkins: A 'Cornerstone In Art Community': Businessman, Benefactor And Accomplished Painter William Sterling Jenkins Is Dead At 86. He Created The Creald้ฉ School Of Art In Winter Park." The Orlando Sentinel, April 1, 1996. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1996-04-01/news/9603310506_1_jenkins-school-of-art-crealde-school.
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1 black and white photograph
Collection
Citation
Lang, Rick, “William "Bill" Sterling Jenkins,” RICHES, accessed October 28, 2025, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/5344.