Mary Louise Meixner was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 7, 1916. She graduated from Washington High school in Milwaukee in 1934, and then received her B.A. (1938) from Milwaukee-Downer College and her M.A. (1945) from the University of Iowa. She continued her art studies at the Art Student League in New York; Mills College, Oakland, California; Bowling Green State University; American School at Fountainbleu, France; Carpenter Center at Harvard University; and the Des Moines Art Center.

After receiving her undergraduate degree, Meixner supervised art education in Wisconsin public schools and taught at Milwaukee-Downer College and Eastern Kentucky State University. She began teaching at Iowa State College (University) in the Department of Applied Art as an Assistant Professor (1953-1956) and was promoted to Associate Professor (1956-1959) and Professor (1959-1983). She was named the Mary B. Welch Distinguished Professor in Home Economics (1975).

During her career at Iowa State, Meixner was honored with a teaching citation (1970) and a faculty citation (1971). In 1970, she received a Design Center Grant for studies in color and light, and took a sabbatical (1966-1967) to study at Harvard and in New York.

She was a member of numerous professional associations and organizations including the College Art Association of America, Mid-America College Art Association, Des Moines Art Center, Milwaukee Art Center, American Association of University Professors, American Home Economics Association, Iowa State Historical Society, the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames, and the Museum of Art of the University of Iowa. She was also a member of the honor societies Omicron Nu, Delta Phi Delta, and Phi Kappa Phi.

In addition to being a professor, Meixner was also an artist. Her works were exhibited across the country, including at the National Design Center, New York; Lakefront Festival, Milwaukee; Sioux City, Iowa; Mason City, Iowa; and Des Moines.

After Meixner retired from Iowa State in 1983, she returned to Wisconsin, where she helped fund local arts programs. She passed away on October 26, 2004.

The collection (1950-1993) contains biographical information, course materials, publications and projects completed by Mary L. Meixner. The biographical information consists of newspaper clippings regarding her works, awards and shows; curriculum vitae; photographs; and information about her distinguished professorship, awarded in 1975.

The collection also includes papers authored by Meixner, much of which deals with color, movement, art history, and environmental arts.

Documents relating to Meixner's courses include rosters, handouts, class lists, surveys of students and special projects. She taught courses on painting, color, and design.

Meixner's special projects included a number of films, funding for which was obtained through the university. They covered aspects of color and movement through dance and were innovative in their use of colored films. Meixner cultivated a relationship with the Mearl Corporation, a company that created the films that Meixner used.

This collection is organized alphabetically.