Ford Wilcox Gilleo was born in Lakeview, Michigan on 8 June of 1891 to Clarence and Gertrude (Wilcox) Gilleo. Before World War I, Gilleo served in the Michigan National Guard. During World War I he served as a lieutenant, then captain in Company B, 126th Infantry, 63rd Brigade of the 32nd Red Arrow Division. Ford married Mary Katherine Furey (1892-1975) in 1921, in New York and they had three children, Phillip Gilleo (1922-1983), Mary Gilleo Lown (1925-2013) and Anne Gilleo Vondra (1927-2014). Ford and his family resided in New York. Joan Vondra and Patricia Lown, Ford’s granddaughters, donated the material for the collection. Ford Gilleo died in Summitville, New York in February of 1975.

Avery Clare Gilleo was born in Lakeview, Michigan on 4 June of 1894 to Clarence and Gertrude (Wilcox) Gilleo. Prior to World War I he joined the Michigan National Guard and, while on duty, attained the rank of first lieutenant, then second lieutenant. During World War I, Gilleo served in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, Company K, 126th Infantry, 63rd Brigade, 32nd Red Arrow Division. After the war he became a captain. Upon his return from the war, Avery married Eleanore Alten (1896-1994), eldest daughter of well-known Grand Rapids artist, Mathias Alten and Bertha (Schwindt) Alten. Together Avery and Eleanore had two children, Mathias Alten Gilleo (1921-1980) and Anita Marie Gilleo. Avery and Eleanore divorced in 1926. Avery’s second wife was Meta E. Baker and together they had one child, Norma Gilleo. Avery Gilleo died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in January of 1957.