Elizabeth Seeger (1889 – November 1, 1973) was an American children's author and educator. Her first book, ''

Pageant of Chinese History ''Pageant of Chinese History'' is a children's history book by Elizabeth Seeger. Focusing on political and cultural history, it covers the history of China from mythological times to the birth of the republic in 1912. The book, illustrated by Be ...

'', was a

Newbery Honor Newbery is a surname. People *Chantelle Newbery (born 1977), Australian Olympic diver *David Newbery (born 1943), British economist *Eduardo Newbery (1878–1908), Argentine odontologist and aerostat pilot *Francis Newbery (disambiguation), seve ...

recipient in 1935. She taught for many years at the

Dalton School The Dalton School, originally the Children's University School, is a private, coeducational college preparatory school in New York City and a member of both the Ivy Preparatory School League and the New York Interschool. The school is located in ...

, eventually becoming director of the high school division.

Biography

Elizabeth Seeger was born in 1889, the younger sister of musicologist

Charles Seeger Charles Louis Seeger Jr. (December 14, 1886 – February 7, 1979) was an American musicologist, composer, teacher, and folklorist. He was the father of the American folk singers Pete Seeger (1919–2014), Peggy Seeger (b. 1935), and Mike Seeger ( ...

and poet

Alan Seeger Alan Seeger (22 June 1888 – 4 July 1916) was an American war poet who fought and died in World War I during the Battle of the Somme, serving in the French Foreign Legion. Seeger was the brother of Charles Seeger, a noted American pacifist ...

. She attended the

Brearley School The Brearley School is an all-girls private school in New York City, located on the Upper East Side neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan. The school is divided into lower (kindergarten – grade 4), middle (grades 5–8) and upper (grades 9– ...

in New York City, as well as the

Art Students League of New York The Art Students League of New York is an art school at 215 West 57th Street in Manhattan, New York City, New York. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists. Although artists may stu ...

. After initially teaching for a time in Dutchess County, New York, Seeger took a position at the

in New York City in 1922; she would work there in various capacities for thirty-five years. ''Pageant of Chinese History'', Seeger's first book, grew out of her frustration in attempting to find a children's history of China for her students. Her later books included ''The Pageant of Russian History'' (1950), ''The Five Sons of King Pandu: The Story of The Mahabhárata'' (1967), ''The Ramayana'' (1969), and ''Eastern Religions'' (1973). Seeger died at her home in Bridgewater, Connecticut, on November 1, 1973.

References

1889 births 1973 deaths American children's writers Newbery Honor winners American women children's writers Art Students League of New York alumni American women educators {{US-writer-stub