Elton Fax graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1926, where he was classmates with Cab Calloway, who became a noted musician.
Fax was an illustrator for magazines such as Weird Tales, Astounding Science-Fiction, Complete Cowboy, Real Western, Story Parade, Child Life, and All Sports.
[12] Among the books he illustrated are Paul Cuffee: America's First Black Captain (1970) by Johanna Johnston, and Take a Walk in Their Shoes (1989) by Glennette Turner.
After living in Mexico and traveling through Bolivia, Argentina, and Uruguay, Fax wrote in his article "It's Been a Beautiful but Rugged Journey" about feeling concerned after the United States Embassy asked him if he had seen any "communist activity".
[citation needed] While in East Africa, he also toured Nigeria with jazz musician Randy Weston on a trip sponsored by the American Society of African Culture (AMSAC).
[15][16] After his time in Rome, Fax toured Africa, visiting such countries as Nigeria, Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
[citation needed] Fax's drawings were also used in the United States Information Agency film series Adventure Africa.
Sue Bailey Thurman donated some of Elton Fax's visual art to Heritage Hall at Livingstone College in 1973.