Education
Emily attended Ulster Academy, a school built in 1870, which served as a public school for the, then, rapidly growing Rondout community of Kingston. She graduated in 1912 with honors. Emily documented her days at Ulster Academy in a journal entitled, “My Golden School Days.” After Ulster Academy, Emily attended a post-secondary school called the Ossining School for Girls, in Ossining, New York. The Ossining School for Girls emphasized Christian values, and was in operation from 1869 through 1932, both for boarders and day pupils. Emily boarded there until the completion of her studies in 1915.
While still a student at Ossining School for Girls, Emily began exhibiting her works of art. After completing high school, Emily took a three-year course of study in art, including studio art courses, art history, language, and history classes. She studied art primarily under painters and instructors Heppie en Earl Wicks and Florence E. Provost.