Abby is the youngest sister of Lousia May Alcott. She was the basis for the character Amy (an anagram of May) in her sister's semi-autobiographical novel Little Women (1868). She was named after her mother, Abigail May, and first called Abba, then Abby, and finally May, which she asked to be called in November 1863 when in her twenties.

Artistically gifted from an early age, she painted decorative figures and faces throughou Orchard House, the family home. May aided the meager family income by selling her art and teaching painting, drawing and modeling clay.

May was the illustrator of the first edition of Little Women, to a negative critical reception. Nevertheless, Louisa's financial success in 1868 allowed May to travel throughout Europe with her sister and their traveling companion and friend Alice Bartlett.

After the death of Anna Alcott’s husband John Pratt in 1871, Louisa returned to Concord while May stayed in Europe to begin serious study. May performed the bulk of her studies in Paris, London and Rome.

In 1877, her still-life was the only painting by an American woman to be exhibited in the Paris Salon. Her paintings were exhibited worldwide. A panel of goldenrod given to neighbor/mentor Ralph Waldo Emerson still hangs in his study. Several can also be seen at the Orchard House in Concord.

She published Concord Sketches with a preface by her sister (Boston, 1869). In her book Studying Art Abroad, and How to do it Cheaply (Boston 1879) she advised: "There is no art world like Paris, no painters like the French, and no incentive to good work equal to that found in a Paris atelier."

In 1879, she died of what was probably childbed fever six weeks after her daughter Louisa May "Lulu" was born. By her wish, Louisa May brought up Lulu until her death in 1888. Louisa's last story was a parable written about Lulu. The story is included in a modern book The Uncollected Works of Louisa May Alcott which is illustrated by May's paintings and drawings.

Though Louisa placed a stone with her initials at the family plot at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery [where most of the family is buried], May is buried in Paris.
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Originally referred to as Baby for several months, she was eventually name Abby May after her mother. As a teenager, she changed the spelling of her name to "Abbie" [sic] before choosing to use only "May".5374
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Mainly known as "May", she was the fourth and youngest Alcott daughter. Most know her as the model for the beautiful and artistic Amy in "Little Women". Dubbed "Little Raphael" by her family, she taught art and sold decorative pieces. Studying abroad in Europe, one of her pieces was admitted into the prestigious French salon in 1877. She was quoted as saying: "Who would have imagined such good fortune and so strong proof that Lu does not monopolize the Alcott talent. Ha! Ha!, sister, this is the first feather plucked from your cap!"

The following year in 1878, she married Swiss businessman and musician Ernest Nieriker. They lived in Meudon, a suburb of Paris, where she gave birth to Louisa May (Lulu) in 1879. She died six weeks later, and had requested that Lulu be sent to live with Louisa May, who would care for her.

Although she is buried in Paris, the Alcott family placed a cenotaph for her alongside her sister Elizabeth, who was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in 1858.315

TErnest and Abby lived in Meudon, a Parisian suburb.5385