Elizabeth F. (Elizabeth Frances) Guptill

Elizabeth F. Guptill, born in 1870, was an American writer remembered chiefly for short plays and entertainments for children. Library and catalog records identify her as Elizabeth Frances Guptill, and some also list her as Elizabeth Frances Ephraim Guptill. Her surviving books suggest a special talent for writing pieces that could be performed in schools, churches, and community gatherings.

Her titles include The Complete Hallowe'en Book, A Topsy-Turvy Christmas, Christmas at Punkin Holler, The Twins, and How They Entertained the New Minister, and A Troublesome Flock. Again and again, she returned to festive settings, comic mix-ups, and large-cast performances, making her work practical as well as entertaining.

Although detailed biographical information is hard to confirm, her writing has lasted because it captures a very specific kind of American popular entertainment: playful, moral without being heavy, and designed to be spoken aloud. For listeners today, her work offers a small window into the world of early children's theater and holiday storytelling.