Edna W. Lawrence, born on Staten Island, NY, graduated from North Kingston (RI) High School, 1916, and Rhode Island School of Design, 1920, Department of Freehand Drawing and Painting, and the NY Art Students League. She joined the RISD staff as a Drawing Instructor in 1922. Lawrence created, organized and operated the Nature Lab, 1937-1975, in the Waterman St. Building, where she taught Freshman Foundation Nature Drawing. Lawrence traveled extensively across North America and took lengthy summer steamer cruises drawing and collecting specimens for the Nature Lab. Professor Emerita of Drawing, she received the RISD Alumni Association Medal, 1968, and the Providence Art Club Medal, 1975.
From the guide to the Edna W. Lawrence papers, Lawrence (Edna W.) papers, 1934-1973, (Rhode Island School of Design Archives)
