Elizabeth Willis DeHuff

Elizabeth Willis DeHuff (1886–1983) was an American painter, teacher, playwright, and children's book writer. She was an important contributor to the development of Native American easel painting in the 1920s and 1930s. DeHuff is also a children's book author who writes predominantly utilizing Native American folklore and themes. Among these books are Blue-Wings-Flying and TayTay's Tales. In writing these children's books, and other works by her like Kaw-eh and Say the Bells of Old Missions: Legends of Old New Mexico Churches that are not necessarily children's books, DeHuff is instrumental in documenting Native American folklore and providing authenticity in the telling of it. Overall, she wrote 65 works in 118 publications. These other works included non children's books and periodical articles Native American, Hispanic, and New Mexico subjects.

Early life and education Elizabeth Mary Willis was likely born in 1886, though some people say 1892, in Augusta, Georgia. She was born to parents John Turner and Ann Boyd Wilson Willis as one of their five children. Her parents were of European descent.

She went to school at the Lucy Cobb Institute in Athens, Georgia. Later, she went to Barnard College in New York City for her teaching degree, and then she went to the Philippines to teach in 1910. During her time there, she met her husband, John David DeHuff.

Upon returning to the United States, she married John David and then went to live in Pennsylvania in 1913. Her husband's job was at the Carlisle Indian School there. she became an art instructor, particularly on that of painting, starting from inside her own home. Her students included Fred Kabotie (Hopi), Awa Tsireh (San Ildefonso Pueblo),

In 1919, the work of DeHuff's students was displayed at the Museum of New Mexico. This was the first book illustrated by Native Americans.

While she was in Santa Fe, DeHuff also took part in many civic and artistic events. In general, she also wrote multiple periodical articles on American Indian, Latin American, and New Mexico historical and cultural topics as well as publishing regularly in the magazine of the Museum of New Mexico, El Palacio. It also provides readers with history on New Mexico missions initiated by the Catholic Church.

Late life Two years later, 1945, DeHuff's husband, John David, died, resulting in DeHuff going back to Georgia. In 1977, DeHuff wrote her final children book, Blue-Wings-Flying. Represented in the collection are more than fifty-five Native American artists. The New Junior Classics : Volume Three; Myths and Legends (1949) Family of the Rev. James Wilson of Barnwell County, South Carolina (1958) Descendants of John Willis, of will in Richmond County, Virginia, 1715 (1962) The Family of Robert Willis of Barnwell County, South Carolina (1962) The Ashley Family (1962) Coyote Wisdom (1965) – Part of a collection of stories by Texas Folklore Society The Weathersbee Family of Halifax and Martin Counties, North Carolina and Barnwell, South Carolina (1965) The Miller Family of North and South Carolina (1967) The Bush Family as Descended from John and Mary Bryan Bush of North Carolina (1967) The Bush Family as Descended from Richard and Elizabeth Beby Bush of Virginia (1968) – Written with Mary Smith Black The Family of Thomas O'Bannon of Fauquier County, Virginia, and Barnwell County, South Carolina (1969) Blue-Wings-Flying (1977)