Lydia Siedschlag (1891-1980) taught art in the training school at Western State Normal School 1921-1922. She remained in the art department through several of Western’s name changes from 1922-1955. From 1924-1952 she was head of the art department.

Lydia was born in Flint, Michigan on February 12, 1891 and died in Kalamazoo, Michigan on May 6, 1980. In her time at what would become Western Michigan University, she influenced the artistic side of many of the major construction projects including most of the interior decorating of Walwood Hall and supervising students who created stained glass for the Kanley Chapel windows. Many of the College’s building descriptions were written by Lydia. She believed that art is not for art’s sake, but that art is for living. Gwen Frostic was one of her students.

Alfonso Ianelli was born in Andretta, Italy on February 17, 1888 and died in Chicago, Illinois on March 23, 1965. He was a sculptor, artist, and industrial designer who studied under Gutzon Borglum and designed some plaques for the Adler Planetarium. He and Lydia were peers and friends.