Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Williams) Champney

Born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1850, Elizabeth Williams Champney grew up to become an American writer of novels, juvenile fiction, and travel pieces. She studied at Vassar College, graduating in 1869, and later built a career that blended storytelling with a strong sense of place.

Much of her writing drew on travel. Accounts of her journeys in Europe appeared in magazines including Harper's and The Century, and foreign settings became a hallmark of her fiction. Her best-known books include the "Three Vassar Girls" series and the "Witch Winnie" series, both of which helped make her a familiar name to younger readers of her time.

Champney died in 1922. Today she is remembered as a versatile and energetic writer whose work joined adventure, education, and curiosity about the wider world.