Born in 1882 in Leipzig, Germany, Else
von Roeder spent her childhood in Germany
and Austria. After training in art at the
University of Leipzig, she attended the Grand
Ducal Academy, where the drawing instruc-
tion focused on nature.
She met and married an American, Monroe
Bostelmann, and they moved to the United
States in 1909. Else gave up painting to have a
family and to do research on natural history.
Eleven years later her husband died, and Else
was left with a young daughter to support.
In 1929, with her fine art background
and knowledge of science, Else approached
William Beebe at the New York Zoological
Society for a job. Beebe was head of the
Department of Tropical Research, which
conducted scientific expeditions around
the world. He was unusual at the time for
employing women in his scientific ventures, a
practice that others criticized as being “unpro-
fessional.” But Beebe ignored the criticism,SealifeoffthecoastofCalifornia Alaskan undersea wildlife
and iceberg
Else in her studio on
Nonsuch Island