Gladys Hecker Myles was born at her parents home in Webster Groves on May 17, 1916. She attended Horace Mann School and Hosmer Hall before enrolling at Washington University, where she met her husband, James Myles. They were married on Memorial Day 1942 and had two children: Marjorie Myles Ivery and James Hecker Myles.

Gladys was a life-long St. Louisian, with the exception of a brief stint during World War II when James was stationed in Columbus, Georgia. She was incredibly active in the local community and was involved with a variety of organizations. She was a charter member of both the Thomas Jefferson Society of the Missouri History Museum and of the Friends of Jefferson Barracks. She was a Life member of the Washington University Eliot Society, the Washington University Women’s Society, the Friends of Jefferson Barracks, and the Eugene Field House. She also held local and national offices with the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. For a number of years, she was also an active member of the Wednesday Club, the Questers Eugene Field Chapter 151, the 1904 World’s Fair Society and the First Congregational Church of St. Louis. She also frequented local antique shows, were she likely purchased the prints in this collection.