Beginning early in life, Ellen was well known in Tuscaloosa as a talented artist. She painted many portraits, local landscapes, and other works of art, for family, friends and neighbors in her hometown. In 1869, Ellen Guild was recognized for her skill and talent as a painter at art exhibitions in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama. She headed the art department at Tuskaloosa Female College from 1872 to 1885. In 1885 she directed the art department at Synodical Female Institute in Florence, Alabama. Soon after that she led the art department at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Dr Archibald J Battle, the husband of her sister Mary Elizabeth, was, at that time, president of Mercer University. In 1890, Ellen and a former student at TFC, her niece, Nellie Guild Hall Johnson, traveled to Europe, where they made a "grand tour" of art museums. They both painted reproductions of famous works of art. Ellen may have followed her sisters, widowed teacher Virginia Guild Hall (mother of Nellie) as well as Mary Elizabeth with her husband, Dr A J Battle, to teach at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia, in the 1890s. When Dr Battle became the president of Annsiton College for Young Ladies in Anniston, Alabama, in 1900-1901, Ellen joined him there to be the head of that art department. Ellen also returned to teach art at Tuskaloosa Female College in 1902. Portraits she had previously made of her father, Dr James Guild, and her brother, Dr Lafayette Guild, were, in 1907, donated by Ellen to the Alabama Department of Archives and history.
Ellen was the youngest child of Mary Elizabeth Williams and Dr James L Guild.
She married Columbus Browning on Oct 16, 1888, in Whitfield County, Georgia.
Beginning early in life, Ellen was well known in Tuscaloosa as a talented artist. She painted many portraits, local landscapes, and other works of art, for family, friends and neighbors in her hometown. In 1869, Ellen Guild was recognized for her skill and talent as a painter at art exhibitions in Selma and Montgomery, Alabama. She headed the art department at Tuskaloosa Female College from 1872 to 1885. In 1885 she directed the art department at Synodical Female Institute in Florence, Alabama. Soon after that she led the art department at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Dr Archibald J Battle, the husband of her sister Mary Elizabeth, was, at that time, president of Mercer University. In 1890, Ellen and a former student at TFC, her niece, Nellie Guild Hall Johnson, traveled to Europe, where they made a "grand tour" of art museums. They both painted reproductions of famous works of art. Ellen may have followed her sisters, widowed teacher Virginia Guild Hall (mother of Nellie) as well as Mary Elizabeth with her husband, Dr A J Battle, to teach at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia, in the 1890s. When Dr Battle became the president of Annsiton College for Young Ladies in Anniston, Alabama, in 1900-1901, Ellen joined him there to be the head of that art department. Ellen also returned to teach art at Tuskaloosa Female College in 1902. Portraits she had previously made of her father, Dr James Guild, and her brother, Dr Lafayette Guild, were, in 1907, donated by Ellen to the Alabama Department of Archives and history.
Ellen was the youngest child of Mary Elizabeth Williams and Dr James L Guild.
She married Columbus Browning on Oct 16, 1888, in Whitfield County, Georgia.
Gravesite Details
Her unmarked grave lies between those of her brother Walter and sister Virginia.
Family Members
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