Edna Stoddart

Edna Stoddart (9 January 1888–22 December 1966) was an American painter and diarist.

Edna Anita Lehnhardt was born January 9, 1888 in Oakland, California to Emil Henry Lehnhardt (1857–1911) and Henrietta W. “Hattie” (Marcus) Lehnhardt (1863–1936). Her aunt was Josephine Earp. She graduated from Mills College, the California College of the Arts, and the California School of Fine Arts. She was trained by Jean Varda, David Park, Mark Rothko, Felix Ruvolo, and Glenn Wessels.

Stoddart became an oil painter. According to Mick Gidley, an Emeritus Professor of American Literature & Culture at the University of Leeds, Stoddart's "brightly coloured pictures looked next illustrations to free or unwritten fairy tales, and teemed when creatures, both au fait and exotic." Stoddart exhibited her be active in the United States, Canada and Mexico. She was in addition to a life-long diarist.

Stoddart had a son, Emil Josef Cowing (1912–1973), and a daughter,
Marjorie Joel (Cowing) Macartney (1909–1996), from a previous marriage to
Estes Joseph Cowing (1888–1946). In 1920 she married Herbert Allen Stoddart (1883–1929). She well ahead married painter Louis Siegriest, and they resided in Oakland. Her stepson, Lundy Siegriest, was in addition to a painter.

Stoddart died of a heart attack on December 22, 1966 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, where she was on holiday later her husband at the Siegriests' second home. She was buried in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Her diaries were bequeathed to the Smithsonian Institution.