Elisabeth Meyer
Elisabeth Meyer (1899 – 1968) was a Norwegian photographer and journalist who is best known for her photo-journalistic work from travels through Iran and India in the 1920s and 1930s, among them early photographs of Mahatma Gandhi. Meyer traveled through Iran on her own and may have been the first Western woman to travel through Iran in this way. There was a total ban on photographing in Iran at the time and she was arrested several times, but released with a warning.
Also recorded as Elisabeth Johanna Meyer (1899-1968)
Elisabeth Meyer

Ernest Rude · Flickr: Portrett av Elisabeth Meyer · Public domain
- Name
- Elisabeth Meyer
- Born
- 1899
- Birthplace
- Tønsberg, Norway
- Died
- 1968
- Occupation
- photographer journalist
- Nationality
- Norway
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Elisabeth Meyer (1899 – 1968) was a Norwegian photographer and journalist who is best known for her photo-journalistic work from travels through Iran and India in the 1920s and 1930s, among them early photographs of Mahatma Gandhi. Meyer traveled through Iran on her own and may have been the first Western woman to travel through Iran in this way. There was a total ban on photographing in Iran at the time and she was arrested several times, but released with a warning.
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Authority files
gnd · 1065109768 · wikidata · Q3427469
In this article
Biography
Biography
In Turkey she visited Kemal Atatürk in his private residence and his bedroom covered in pink silk. In Irak she interviewed king Faisal in his "palais just outside Baghdad". In India the young Indira Nehru helped Meyer visit the imprisoned Mahatma Gandhi, and she described the meeting like this: «Any other man would appear ridiculous in that outfit, but with regard to Gandhi all criticism is silenced. I was never particularly enthusiastic about Gandhi, but now I am completely converted. He is one of the most sympathetic humans I have ever met, he is truly a great man.» Meyer also visited Syria, Mexico and Alaska. Meyer was born in Tønsberg to an affluent family. Her father gave her a Kodak folding camera for her travels, which seems to have led to her professional choice later. She joined the Oslo Camera Club in 1932, and then traveled to Berlin in 1937 to study photography at the Reimann School, where she studied with Walter Peterhans and Otto Croy. She worked as an apprentice for Joszef Pécsi in Budapest before returning to Norway, where she spent the war years. Meyer produced material for various publications including National Geographic Magazine and Aftenposten.

Tittel / Title: Portrett av fotografen Elisabeth Meyer (1899-1968) Beskrivelse / Description: Elisabeth Meyer var journalist og fotograf. I 1929 gjorde hun en reise til Iran og Irak, senere også til India. Dette resulterte i 2 bøker illustrert med egne fotografier utgitt i 1930 og i 1933. Dato /
Nasjonalbiblioteket from Norway · Portrett av fotografen Elisabeth Meyer Uploaded by palnatoke
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Elisabeth Meyer • Born — 1899 • Birthplace — Tønsberg, Norway • Died — 1968 • Occupation — photographer journalist
Gallery
Gallery
• Illustration — Sikkim, Tibet, 1932 (photo Preus Museum) • Illustration — Postal guide Mattis Johansen Pentha, Norway (photo Preus Museum)
Identity
Identity
Elisabeth Meyer is recorded as photographer and journalist.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1899
Elisabeth Meyer born at Tønsberg.
1968
Elisabeth Meyer died at Oslo.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1065109768, Elisabeth Meyer (Firma).
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q3427469: Elisabeth Meyer
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1065109768, Elisabeth Meyer (Firma).Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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