Poe Sisters

Elisabeth Ellicott Poe
Born	July 27, 1886  Philadelphia
Died	September 29, 1947  (aged 61) Washington, D.C.
Occupation	Artist

Vylla Poe Wilson
Born	February 27, 1883  New Jersey
Died	October 2, 1969  (aged 86) Washington, D.C.
Occupation	Artist

Elisabeth "Bessie" Ellicott Poe (July 27, 1886-September 29, 1947)[1][2][3] and Vylla Ellicott Poe Wilson (February 27, 1883-October 2, 1969)[4] were journalists in Washington, DC. They sometimes collaborated on a woman's column under the name the Poe Sisters.

They were the daughters of inventor George Poe, Jr., a cousin of the poet Edgar Allan Poe.[5] For most of their lives, they worked for mostly Washington DC newspapers, including the Washington Post, the Washington Times, the Washington Times-Herald, and King Features Syndicate, in a variety of editorial capacities, covering art, women's issues, and the White House.[3][4][6]

During World War I, the Poe sisters were organizers of the Women's Section of the Navy League and its training camp for women in Chevy Chase, Maryland.[7]

In 1933, Evalyn Walsh McLean, wife of Washington Post owner Edward Beale McLean, enlisted the sisters to briefly pawn the Hope Diamond on her behalf when she needed cash.[8]

Together, the Poe sisters published the books Edgar Allan Poe: A High Priest of the Beautiful and Half-Forgotten Romances of American History. In 1930, they started a magazine called The Stylus, named after the periodical Edgar Allan Poe was unable to create.[9] Both sisters were painters and exhibited their work locally. Elisabeth Poe exhibited more frequently and primarily painted watercolors.[3][10]

References

1. Koykka, Arthur S. (1986). Project remember : a national index of gravesites of notable Americans. Internet Archive. Algonac, MI : Reference Publications. ISBN 978-0-917256-22-6.
2. Marquis-Who S Who, Inc (1975). Who was who in american history, arts and letters. Internet Archive. Chicago : Marquis Who'S Who. ISBN 978-0-8379-3301-6. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)
3. "Miss Elisabeth Poe, Newspaperwoman and Artist, Dies". Washington Star. September 30, 1947. pp. A-3.
4. "Wylla Poe Wilson Dies; Newspaperwoman, 86". Washington Star. October 4, 1969.
5. "George Poe is dead". Washington Post. February 3, 1914. p. 16.
6. Ross, Ishbel (1936). Ladies Of The Press.
7. "Baltimore Girls who will prepare for war service at Chevy Chase". Baltimore Sun. 9 Apr 1916. p. 28.
8. Richard Kurin (2006). Hope diamond. Internet Archive. Smithsonian Books. ISBN 978-0-06-087351-6.
9. "Cousins Found Magazine Like Poe Dreamed Of". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 19 Jan 1930. pp. A8.
10. None (1999). Who was who in American art, 1564-1975 : 400 years of artists in America. Internet Archive. Madison, CT : Sound View Press. ISBN 978-0-932087-55-3.