Elsie Lincoln (Vandergrift) Benedict (1885-1970) was one of the most dynamic and influential women of the early 20th century. A renowned suffragist, psychologist, author, and lecturer, she reached over three million people through her electrifying public talks-long before the rise of motivational figures like Napoleon Hill or Dale Carnegie.Raised in Montrose, Colorado, Elsie excelled in psychology and anthropology at the University of Denver. Her oratorical talent earned her twelve gold medals and a historic place as the first woman on an intercollegiate debate team. Her remarkable communication skills led to her appointment as official reporter for the Colorado Senate by Governor John F. Shafroth. She later became Chief of the Advertising Department at the State Land Office and held editorial positions in several Denver newspapers.In 1914, Elsie married Harvard graduate Ralph Paine Benedict, a fellow author and anthropologist. Together they co-wrote several influential books on personality, including How to Analyze People on Sight, and co-founded the Benedict School of Opportunity and the International Opportunity League. Elsie's groundbreaking course, Brainology, introduced scientific mind training techniques that predated the law of attraction movement and inspired thousands to pursue self-mastery.By age 30, she had become a self-made millionaire. Her global lectures and passion for anthropology took her to 56 countries, experiences she chronicled in Our Trip Around the World. In 1932, while traveling through Australia, she adopted an 11-year-old boy and named him Elson-short for "Elsie's son." Following that pivotal moment, Elsie retired from public speaking to embrace motherhood. Elson would later become the youngest student ever admitted to CalTech.Elsie's legacy continues through her writings, teachings, and the Elsie Lincoln Vandergrift Memorial Scholarship at the University of Denver. Today, her great-granddaughter-Elson's granddaughter-is republishing her works and preserving her memory for a new generation of readers.Elsie Lincoln Benedict was more than a pioneer in psychology and women's rights-she was a visionary who believed that self-understanding and disciplined thought could unlock anyone's potential.