Mary Electa Allen

Mary Electa Allen (1858–1941) was an American photographer and co-founder of the Deerfield Society of Blue and White Needlework.

[5] She began studying at the Deerfield Academy with her sister, Frances Stebbins Allen, where they first had the opportunity to progress socially, intellectually, and artistically.

In 'Blue and White Needlework', The House Beautiful, volume III, April 1898, Mary wrote: "Deerfield, Massachusetts, has long been known to the student of history as an interesting link between the past and the present.

"[11] They never made substantial money through selling prints and catalogs; however, they still managed to travel to Britain in 1908, and the Grand Canyon and Yosemite in 1916.

Mary even had the opportunity to be present for President William McKinley's second inauguration in 1901 at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C.[4] The sisters were often collectively referred to as 'the Misses Allen'.

Their ideas eventually influenced the American arts and crafts community with the movement taking roots in different cities and towns.

[12] While both the Allen sisters were actively involved with the Deerfield Arts and Crafts movement, Mary played a critical role in its development and progress in their small rural town.

They both photographed the happenings related to the movement, including people working at their arts and crafts, and cataloging the pieces their townspeople produced.

Mary abandoned photography for some time to co-found with three other people the Deerfield Society of Blue and White Needlework, an organization dedicated to producing embroidered textiles.

In 1896, she designed the organization's trademark seal, the letter 'D' placed over a flax wheel, which was embroidered on all the items put up for sale.

The photographs were cataloged and preserved by Mary Hawks, from the original Deerfield lineage, and Judy Lawrence, Margaret's daughter.