Jessie Arms Botke was born in Chicago. She won a scholarship to Chicago University, but decided to attend the Chicago Art Institute instead. After four years at the Institute, she worked for several interior design studios. In 1911 she moved to New York , and worked for Herter Looms preparing tapestry cartoons.

In 1914, after she had completed work on some decorative panels for El Mirasol in Santa Barbara, Jessie returned to Chicago where she met Cornelis Botke. When she returned to New York two weeks later, they were engaged, and married in 1915. Jessie was commissioned to do a frieze for Ida Noyes Hall, Chicago University in 1917. Cornelis gave up his work of architectural renderings in order to work on this project with her.

In 1918 the Botkes took a trip to California and decided to settle in Carmel where they established a home and studio and became active in the Carmel art scene. In 1923 the Botke family went to Europe, spending a year in France and eight months in Holland. They returned to Carmel in 1925, but only stayed two years. In 1927 they moved to Los Angeles, finally settling in Santa Paula in 1929.

Jessie Arms Botke had a very successful and distinguished career, and was well known for her oil paintings and murals. Her last major exhibition was held in 1967.

Studied : Art Institute of Chicago, with John Johanson, Charles Woodbury; Herter; Europe.

Member : California Watercolor Society; California Art Club; National Association of Women Artists; American Watercolor Society; Foundation of Western Art; Chicago Art Galleries; Grand Central Art Galleries.

Exhibited : Art Institute of Chicago,1904-15 (as Jessie Arms), 1917-27 (as Jessie Arms Botke), prizes, 1918,1919, 1926; Peoria Society of Allied Artists,1918 (medal); Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts,1919; National Association of Women Artists,1925 (prize), 1933 (prize); Sesqui-Centenial Exposition, Philadelphia, PA,1926; Southwest Exposition, 1928 (medal); Western Academy Painters, 1935 (prize),1936 (prize); Sanity in Art, 1938 (prize); National Academy of Design; Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; Corcoran Gallery, 1926,1932; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Golden Gate Exposition, San Francisco,1939; CPLH; California State Fair, 1947 (prize); Chicago Galleries Association,1951 (prize); Paris Salon.

Works held : Art Institute of Chicago; Nebraska Art Association; Santa Paula, Bakersfield, Gardena (California) High Schools, Mills College; Swope Gallery of Art; Norton Gallery of Art; Los Angeles County College; murals, University of Chicago’ I. Magnin Co., Los Angeles; Woodrow Wilson High School, Oxnard, CA; Ojai, CA; Art Deco Restorations.

Sources : WW 66; WW 47; Hughes, Artists of California, 62; P&H Samuels, 60; Charles Woodbury and His Students,22; Trenton, ed. Independent Spirits, 58 (w/repro).