These are two of the only remaining pictures of Ellen Clapsaddle.These are her graduation picture from the Richfield Academy in Richfield Springs,New York.Later ,she was one of the first women to graduate from Cooper-Union in NY City. Ellen created over 4000 images of little children and published some 3 million postcards containing these images.She is credited with putting the first smile and red checks on old Kris Kringle and turning him into the Santa Claus we know today.She also designed the first "snow babies" in the late 1800's.Today,she is one of the world's most collectible post card artist. Her dates are 1866-1934.

Ellen when she graduated from the Richfield Academy.From this time until she was in her early 20's she painted local farm houses,homes,and portraits with watercolors.She also painted plates and did design work for the Ibosson Co.in Utica and Richfield Springs.During this time she sent two of her postcard designs to a publisher in NY City.This started her postcard designing and writting.Her cards became the best sellers for this company.

One of Ellen's Snow Baby cards. She designed these little children in the middle 1880's.They have been duplicated around the world today in the form of minature statues,prints,decorative items.

Ellen's New Years card.

Ellen is credited with "humanitizing " mean looking Kris Kringle into a smiling red cheeked Santa Claus.Here is shown peeking in at a beautiful little girl awaiting his arrival.

A little snow baby bending over to push a wheelbarrow filled with toys.

Ellen Harriet Clapsaddle :Born 1866 Died 1934 Parents: Dennis and Harriet Beckwith Clapsaddle.Her family intermarried with our family in 1830 when Peter Clapsaddle married Mary Steele.The farm we presently live on was her uncle's farm and has been in the Clapsaddle and Steele farmilies since 1737.

 Ellen Clapsaddle grew up in the Town of Columbia in Herkimer County,New York.She lived on her Uncle's farm with her mother and father.She attended a one room school as a child ,graduated from Richfield Academy in Richfield Springs,N.Y. and was one of the first women to graduate from Cooper-Union College in New York City.Ellen's early work in art was to teach portrait and landscape painting locally.She submitted two of her children's paintings to a postcard company in NYC ,including poems attached to each. They became the company's best sellers when converted to mailable postcards.She then was moved to NYC by the company and later to Berlin to supervise the printing of her cards in full color.During her art career,she painted ,in watercolor , over 4000 images of little children.These were turned into postcards and over two million were printed and sold worldwide.Ellen is credited with painting the first "Snow Babies" and with " humanitizing" Santa Claus.She turned a stern looking "Chris Kringel" into a red-cheeked ,smiling Santa Claus.

Most of Ellen's work was done in watercolor,athough some of her early portraits ,done white she lived in Richfield Springs were created using oils.

Ellen Clapsaddle's Haloween Images

Haloween Image 1. Pumpkin Boy

Haloween Image No.2: Pumpkin Boy stacking pumpkins.

Haloween Image No.3: Girl sitting on pumpkin.

Haloween Image N0.4: Girl Witch and Cat at fireside.

Haloween Image No.5: Little Girl Pumpkin Carver.

Haloween Image No.6: Pumpkin Girl with Candle lighted in Pumpkin.

No.1 Image

Ellen's paintings are reproduced by our family and offerred in an 8x10 matted print at $16.00 each.A check or money order can be mailed to our farm at :Clapsaddle Farm 437 Otsego Street,Ilion,NYS 13357.Delivery is included in the price and 2 weeks should be allowed for delivery.Ellen's images will be rotated on our website as the seasons change ,since she did paintings unique to each season.Specify the number of Ellen's painting on the right of each image.

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Ellen's Shamrock card with a postal cancellation.Image 10

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