Promoting Art and the Koreshan Unity

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Bertie Boomer was born on May 1, 1880, and, along with her mother and siblings, joined the Koreshan Unity in Chicago. In 1894, the family relocated to Estero.

Bertie was a talented artist, having studied at the Art Institute of Chicago as well as in France, England and Italy. She also served as the director of the Koreshan Unity Art Club, managed the Fort Myers Historical Museum and taught school at Punta Blanca near Boca Grande.

On Sept. 3, 1941, while on a picnic with friends on Fort Myers Beach, Bertie Boomer was hit and killed by a pickup truck.

It was later said that “Bertie was a beautiful person, loved by all, a warm personality. … She loved the outdoors – boating trips to the islands for picnics - Loved to swim. She loved to sketch our beautiful Florida scenes - a true blue Florida artist.”