SPRENGELMEYER, Mary Beth

SPRENGELMEYER, Mary Beth. (Dubuque, IA, June 9, 1942- ). In 1990 Sprengelmeyer owned and managed ALLIED CAMERA, the firm that her mother began shortly after WORLD WAR II. Sprengelmeyer began working in the company at the age of nine when the company was located at 13th Street and Central Avenue. By the 1950s, when the company moved to Fourth Street, she had begun developing her knowledge of photographic equipment and technique. (1)

The company was moved in 1968 to the old Graham Building across from AMERICAN TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK. In 1971 it became the first tenant of the Nesler Centre during URBAN RENEWAL. (2)

Sprengelmeyer acquired the business in 1984. New equipment was purchased, and the business developed a one-hour processing shop in KENNEDY MALL. This location had to be changed in 1990 with the closing of ARMSTRONG'S DEPARTMENT STORE. (3)

Locally, Sprengelmeyer in 1985 was elected president of the board of directors of the Little Cloud Council of GIRL SCOUTS. (4) She was also a member of the board of directors of the United Way Supplemental Committee and the DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. (5)

Retired around 2003, she began a second career volunteering. She began at Second Chances consignment shop at 2600 Dodge St. where proceeds were donated to HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. She also volunteers at ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH parish which offers a weekly meal. She is also a volunteer at MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center gift shop. (6)

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Source:

1. Smith, Rick. "A Picture of Family Cooperation," Telegraph Herald, December 30, 1990, p. 23

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. "People of Note," Telegraph Herald, May 19, 1985, p. 16

5. Smith

6. Montgomery, Jeff, "Volunteer Blessed with Ability to Connect," Telegraph Herald, February 18, 2019, p. 3