Clara Melissa Barnes

Clara Melissa Barnes was a painter and craftsperson active in Missouri in the 1930s. She was born on January 30, 1904, in St. Louis. Barnes attended the St. Louis School of Fine Arts of Washington University and subsequently worked as a librarian at the school. During this time, Barnes became involved with Shikari, an honorary arts fraternity, serving as secretary of the organization from 1935-1936.

Barnes' work was playful and ornamental. Her Campus Pets, small ornamental wooden pins in the shapes of various dog breeds and other animals, became popular among students after she supplied several of the pins for Washington University's annual winter bazaar. Barnes expanded the pins into a successful business; she worked out of the studio of colleague and fellow Shikari member Mary Rush and was assisted by a young art student. Barnes also began producing other wooden ornamental accessories, such as buttons, belt buckles, purse frames and monograms.

Although she did not show her work frequently, Barnes participated in Shikari exhibitions at the Scruggs, Vandervoort and Barney and Stix, Baer and Fuller department stores in 1930 and 1933. Barnes died on June 18, 1990, in St. Louis, and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery.