King, Edith Lawrence, 1884-1975

Edith Lawrence King (1884-1975) was an American painter born in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Spending most of her childhood in Chelsea, Massachusetts and Belmont, Massachusetts she eventually moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts in order to pursue her education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Part way through her education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, however, she moved to Providence, Rhode Island in order to complete her education at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). The Rhode Island School of Design is one of the oldest and most prodigious fine arts and design schools in the nation and here she learned under Maurice Prendergast. After completing her degree Edith King moved to New York City, New York in order to further pursue her career as a painter. During this time Edith King was invited to exhibit her work at the famous Armory Show of 1913.

After this Edith King continued to pursue painting as her career before eventually settling down in Cambridge, Massachusetts where she worked at the Buckingham School in Massachusetts. She worked there until she moved to New York City, New York with her friend Dorothy Coit (who she met in 1921) and they founded the King-Coit Children’s Theatre and School in 1923.

Edith King worked as an educator and part time painter until her retirement in 1959. The King-Coit School and Children’s Theatre offered arts programs for children from five to twelve, and featured acting and dance classes led by Coit, and drawing and painting classes taught by King. The studies were aimed toward a theatrical production. Roles were not assigned until shortly before the performances, and children learned the entire script. Coit wrote any adaptations and directed all productions, while King designed the sets and costumes, often based on off historical manuscripts, books, and art. The plays would each run for a few weeks, and the plays were repeated over the three decades the King-Coit School and Children’s Theatre operated.

Upon retiring Edith King moved to the countryside of Southbury, Connecticut where she passed away at the age of 91 in 1975.