Drawing of "Balinese little boy"
from travel sketchbook, undated

Elisabeth Telling was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1892. She graduated from Smith College in 1904 and studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts from 1904 to 1905. Telling was a member of the Society of Women Geographers and traveled extensively in Europe, Central America, the Far East, Southeast Asia, Peru, and Haiti. She specialized in portraits of children and people in their native costume. Her artwork has been exhibited across the country and she published several articles about her travels.

The Elisabeth Telling Papers include extensive correspondence (1902-36) with her family describing her travels; diaries (1902-65); photographs and slides; writings; and her artwork. Her writings include published articles and her unpublished manuscript, "An Artist In Guatemala." Notable correspondents include playwright Stuart Walker, Sophia Smith Collection Director Margaret Storrs Grierson, sculptor Alice Morgan Wright, and artist Robert Eskridge.

This collection is organized into four series:

• I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
• II. WRITINGS AND ARTWORK
• III. CORRESPONDENCE
• IV. SLIDES
• OVERSIZED MATERIALS

NOTE: This collection has not been fully processed; therefore:

• The container list may not be completely accurate.
• Although some materials may not be arranged in a logical order, please do not rearrange items or folders.
• Locations of materials are subject to change when the collection is fully processed at a later date.
• Some fragile items may not be protected in proper archival enclosures and should be handled with extreme care.