elizabeth (elisabeth) parrish starr was born in april 29, 1889, at 1504 walnut avenue, philadelphia (later the family moved to 1818 south rittenhouse square, philadelphia), the daughter of louis starr (1849-1925), a doctor, one of the first to establish paediatrics as a branch and son of isaac starr, a banker, and mary parrish (1855-1928), a member of the pennsylvania society of the colonial dames of america. starr was the cousin of dillwyn parrish, the american writer, illustrator, and painter.