MYSTERY SOLVED: The Mystery of Betty Parsons with an unidentified woman, circa 1977

Two women stand, looking towards something. The woman closer to the camera is standing at a side profile view.
Betty Parsons with an unidentified woman, circa 1977. Photographer unknown. Calvert Coggeshall papers.

The Mystery:

What: The two women appear to be in an art gallery, looking at a piece.

Where: Unknown

When: circa 1977

Who: Betty Parsons (right) and unidentified woman (left)

Help us solve the mystery: Who is this unidentified woman appreciating art with Betty Parsons?

About the People Connected to This Photo:

Betty Parsons (1900-1982) was one of the leading art dealers in New York City specializing in modern art, particularly the work of the Abstract Expressionists, and an abstract painter and sculptor in her own right. She opened Betty Parsons Gallery in 1946 at 15 E. 57th St., later moving to 24 W. 57th St.

This photo of Betty Parsons and the unidentified woman is from the Calvert Coggeshall papers, 1920-1999. Calvert Coggeshall (1907-1990) worked as an abstract painter and interior designer primarily in Maine and New York City. From 1951 to 1978, he exhibited regularly with the Betty Parsons Gallery.

The Solution:

Betty Parsons with Elisabeth Ross Zogbaum, circa 1977

What: The two women appear to be in an art gallery, looking at a piece.

Where: Unknown

When: circa 1977

Who: Betty Parsons (right) and Elisabeth Ross Zogbaum (left)

The unidentified woman (left) is Elisabeth Ross Zogbaum. She was a close friend of Franz Kline, who exhibited at the Betty Parsons Gallery. The Archives of American art has Zogbaum's papers related to Franz Kline. View her papers at the link here.

How to Get In Touch:

If you have leads, clues, or ideas of who the unknown individuals may be , email us at AAAMysteries@si.edu. Your email should include:

  1. Your first and last name
  2. Your organization, if applicable
  3. Your preferred mode of contact, should we need to reach you (e.g. email address or phone number)
  4. The photo name (for which you are identifying the unknown individual)
  5. The name of the individual you believe is the unidentifiable figure in the photo or any information you may have that could help us identify the individual
  6. Your level of certainty in the information you provided

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