Part of the American History & Genealogy Project

Distinguished Literary Women Ahern to Crowninshield

Mary Aileen Ahern
Born near Indianapolis, Indiana. Teacher in the public schools of Pennsylvania and Assistant State Librarian in 1889 and State Librarian in 1893. In 1896 she organized and has since edited The Public Library, a library journal. Has lectured before several colleges and library schools and associations. Fellow of the American Library Institute, organized the Indiana Library Association, member of the Illinois Library Association, Chicago Library Club, American Peace League, National Association of Charities and Corrections, and is prominent in library work throughout the country.

Isabella MacDonald Alden 1831 ~
Whose nom de plume is "Pansy," was born in Rochester, New York, November 5, 1831. Her pen name was given her by her father because she picked all of the treasured blossoms from a bed grown by her mother. She wrote stories, sketches, compositions, and these were first published in the village papers. She wrote her first real story to compete for the prize offered for the best Sunday School book, and gained her aim. "Helen Lester" was the first volume to appear signed by the well-known name of "Pansy." Some of her books are "Esther Reid," Tour Girls at Chautauqua," "Chautauqua Girls at Home," "Tip Lewis and His Lamp," "Three People," "Links in Rebecca's Life," "Julia Reid," "The King's Daughter," "The Browning Boys," "From Different Standpoints," "Mrs. Harry Harper's Awakening." Mrs. Alden was always deeply interested in Sunday School and primary teaching. She was prominently identified with the Chautauqua movement, and most of her books appear in the Sunday School libraries of the United States. She was married to Rev. G. R. Alden in 1866, and is as successful a pastor's wife as she is an author. Mrs. Alden is the mother of a very gifted son. Prof. Raymond Macdonald Alden.

Gertrude Atherton 1857 ~ 1948
Was born in Rincon Hill, a part of San Francisco, in 1857. Her mother was the daughter of Stephen Franklin, a descendant of one of the brothers of Benjamin Franklin. His daughter was quite famous in California as a beauty. She married Thomas L. Horn, a prominent citizen of San Francisco from Stonington, Connecticut, and a member of the famous Vigilant Committee. The daughter Gertrude was educated in California and married George Henry Bowen Atherton of Menlo Park, California, a Chilian by birth. Her first story, "The Randolphs of Redwoods," was published in the San Francisco Argonaut, but among her many stories perhaps the best known is "Senator North." Her story of the life of Alexander Hamilton under the title "The Conqueror" is considered her best work.

Martha Gallison Moore Avery 1851 ~ 1929
Is the daughter of A. K. P. Moore, and on her father's side is descended from Irish, Scotch and Dutch ancestry; on her mother's, from English. Her people have always been distinguished in the various conflicts for freedom which have taken place in this country. Major John Moore, of Bunker Hill fame, was one of her kinsmen, and her grandfather, General Samuel Moore, was conspicuous in state affairs. Mrs. Avery's first active part in public life was as a charter member of the First Nationalist Club of Boston, which claimed among its members such distinguished personages as Edward Everett Hale and Mary Livermore. She later became a socialist, and was director of the Karl Marx class, which taught the economics of socialism, and this later became the Boston School of Political Economy. She is an acknowledged authority on philosophy, history and economic theories. She wrote, in conjunction with David Goldstein, one of her students, a book entitled "Socialism" and "The Nation of Fatherless Children." She has lectured and written constantly in the interests of socialism for many years. She is at present head of the Boston School of Political Economy. Having become a convert to the Roman Catholic faith, she is today one of the most eloquent speakers and writers against the socialistic movement; is a contributor to the National Civic Federation Review, Social Justice, and is at work on a book entitled "Twenty-Five Socialists Answered;" also a work on the "Primal Principles of Political Economy."

Myrta Lockett Avary
Mrs. Avary was born in Halifax, Virginia. Is prominent in fresh air and settlement work in the various cities, and engaged in sociology and historical work in the South. Has served on the editorial staff of several high-class magazines and written for syndicates and the religious press on sociology and stories of tenement life, also stories of the Civil War, and edited "Recollections of Alexander H. Stephens," etc.

Florence Augusta M. Bailey 1863 ~
Mrs. Bailey was born in Locust Grove, New York, August 8, 1863. Sister of Clinton Hart Merriam. Has written much on bird life in America. Is a member of the American Ornithologists' Union, and the Biological Society of Washington.

Ellen Blackmar Barker
Mrs. Barker writes under the name of Ellen Blackmar Maxwell. She was born at West Springfield, Pennsylvania. Her first husband. Rev. Allen J. Maxwell, died at Lucknow, India, in 1890. Wrote "The Bishop's Conversion," "Three Old Maids in Hawaii," and "The Way of Fire." Her second husband is Albert Smith Barker.

Alice Elinor Bartlett
Writer under the pen-name of "Birch Arnold." Born in Delavan, Wisconsin, September 4, 1848. Daughter of J. B. and Sophronia R. Braley Bowen. Wrote for many years on the Chicago newspapers. Now engaged in general literary work, besides writer of verse.

Charlotte Fiske Bates 1838 ~
Writer under the pen-name of "Mme. Rogé." Born in New York, November 30, 1838. Daughter of Hervey and Eliza (Endicott) Bates. In 1891 she married M. Adolph Rogé, who died in 1896. Author of poems. Editor of the "Longfellow Birthday Book," "Cambridge Book of Poetry and Song' and aided Mr. Longfellow in compiling "Poems of Places."

Caroline M. Beaumont
Is the daughter of Joseph I. Beaumont, of St Paul, Minnesota; is a writer on the St. Paul Dispatch, and founder of the Guild of Catholic Women.

Lilian Bell 1867 ~ 1920
Was born in Chicago in 1867, but spent her early years in Atlanta. Daughter of Major William Bell, an officer of the Civil War. Her grandfather. General Joseph Warren Bell, was a Southerner, but sold and freed his slaves before the war, brought his family North to Illinois. He organized the Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry. Her first literary work was "The Expatriates." Probably her best known book is ''The Love Affairs of an Old Maid." In 1893 she married Arthur Hoyt Bogue of Chicago. They now make their home in New York City, where Mrs. Bogue is still engaged in literary work under her maiden name.

Adelaide George Benet 1848 ~
Was born in Warner, New Hampshire, November 8, 1848. Daughter of Gilman C. and Nancy B. George. Taught several years in the public schools of Manchester, New Hampshire; Married Charles Benet, of Pipestone City, Minnesota, in 1887. She is a botanist of distinction.

Anna Farquhar Bergengren 1865 ~
Mrs. Bergengren was of Scotch-English ancestry, her people coming to America in Lord Baltimore's time and settling in Maryland, near Baltimore. She was born December 23, 1865, near Brookville, Indiana, her father being a lawyer, a member of Congress, and during her life in Washington, she obtained the material for her book called "Her Washington Experiences." Her father's death made her determine upon a career for herself and she chose a musical education, but her health failed while studying in Boston, and she was ultimately obliged to give up singing, in which she had already attained fair success. Her story "The Singer's Heart" expressed her professional ambitions. "The Professor's Daughter" was published in The Saturday Evening Post and was very popular. "Her Boston Experiences" appeared in a magazine and ultimately in book form. Her book, "The Devil's Plough," is a story of the early French missionaries of North America. In January, 1900, she was married to Ralph Bergengren, a Boston Journalist, and has continued her literary labors.

Amy Allemand Bernardy 1880 ~
Though born at Florence, Italy, January 16, 1880, Miss Bernardy is conspicuous for her work in this country. She has been professor of Italian at Smith College, contributor to various magazines and newspapers, and prominently identified with emigration and immigration study movement in Italy and the United States and is the author of several books in Italian.

Mary Axtell Bishop 1859 ~
Was born January 19, 1859, in Galena, Illinois, and is the daughter of the Rev. Charles Axtell. Her mother was one of the descendants of the Campbells, who took a prominent part in the settlement of Virginia. In 1884 she married General J. W. Bishop. She was the first president of the Guild of Catholic Women, and founder of the Altar Guild of the Cathedral of St Paul, Minnesota. She has written several poems and some clever prose.

Mary Frances Blaisdell 1874 ~
Born in Manchester, New Hampshire, April 20, 1874. Daughter of Clark and Clara M. Blaisdell. The author, in conjunction with her sister, Etta A. Blaisdell MacDonald, of several books for children: "Child Life in Tale and Fable," "Child Life in Many Lands," "Child Life in Literature," "The Child Primer," 'The Blaisdell Spellers," "The Child Life Fifth Reader," and stories for children.

Florence L. Holmes Bork 1869 ~
Was born in Bracken County, Kentucky, October 29, 1869, and is a collateral descendant of Patrick Henry. She has written for magazines and papers short stories, sketches and poems since she was thirteen years of age; was private secretary to John M. Crawford, of Cincinnati, when minister to St Petersburg. In 1902 she married George L. Bork, of Buffalo, whose aunt is Mother Severine, Superior of three institutions of Sisters of Notre Dame de Providence. She is a member of many prominent clubs and charitable organizations and societies, the Federation of Women's Clubs and the Catholic Women's Clubs. She writes principally under the pen name of Alice Benedict.

Sophia Braeunlich 1860 ~
Mrs. Braeunlich was born July 2, 1860, in Bethpage, Long Island. After the death of her husband, she was left without resources. She took a business course at the Packard Business College in New York, and on her graduation obtained the position of private secretary to the editor of the Engineering and Mining Journal, and president of the Scientific Publishing Company. She displayed such ability and mastered so fully the technical details of the paper, that finally she attended the meetings of the American Institute of Mining Engineers as representative of the editor, and when Mr. Rothwell resigned this position, Mrs. Braeunlich was elected to the vacancy and became the business manager of the entire establishment She assisted the government in obtaining data for the statistics in regard to the collection of gold for the Eleventh Census. She is described as "a woman of strong character, with an instinctive clearness of vision ascribed to women, with the sound judgment of a man."

Mary Blatchley Briggs 1846 ~
Mrs. Briggs was born in Valparaiso, Indiana, January 1, 1846. She served for eleven years as assistant secretary, superintendent, and reporter for the press, and manager of county, state and inter-state fairs. She has written a volume of poems. She served on the executive committee; Board of Lady Managers of the World's Fair.

M. Sears Brooks
Mrs. Brooks was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Her family, the Tuttles, of Hertfordshire, England, settled in New Haven, Connecticut upon a tract of land now occupied by Yale College, and this tract remained in their family for more than a century. Her grandfather was one of Anthony Wayne's men at the storming of Stony Point Presidents Dwight and Woolsey, of Yale, are descendants of her family; also Prescott, the historian, and other noted people. Mrs. Brooks is the author of poems, essays, and short stories which have appeared in the newspapers and magazines of tile country.

Alice Williams Brotherton 1848 ~ 1930
Daughter of Alfred Baldwin Williams and Ruth Hoge Johnson Williams, was born at Cambridge, Indiana, her parents removing to Cincinnati, Ohio, when she was quite young. Her education was received mainly from the grammar and high schools of Cincinnati. She was married October 18, 1876, to Mr. William Ernest Brotherton of that city. She has been a constant contributor to newspapers and magazines, a prominent college woman, and has devoted much time to essays and writings on Shakespeare, delivering lectures before women's colleges and dramatic schools.

Abbie Farwell Brown
Born in Boston. Daughter of Benjamin F. and Clara (Neal) Brown. Educated at Radcliffe College. At one time one of the editors of the Young Folks Library. Author of books on animals, flowers, birds and other subjects. Writer of stories for children. Contributor to magazines and newspapers. Editor of the Library for Young People.

Emma Elizabeth Brown 1847 ~
Born in Concord, New Hampshire, October 18, 1847. Daughter of John Frost and Elizabeth (Evans) Brown. Writer and illustrator. Has written the lives of Washington, Grant, Garfield, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell and other noted persons. Is the author of many other books of prose and verse, and is a contributor to magazines.

Kate Louise Brown 1857 ~
Born in Adams, Massachusetts, May 9, 1857. Daughter of Edgar M. and Mary T. Brown. Contributor to magazines and juvenile publications. Is the author of children's songs and music for the kindergarten.

Mary Edwards Bryan 1844 ~
Born in Florida, Georgia, in 1844. Daughter of John D. and Louisa Critchfield Edwards. Wrote for Southern papers and was editor of the New York Bazar, and also of the Half-Hour Magazine, two New York publications. Returning to the South, she is now on the staff of Uncle Remus' Home Magazine. Is a member of the Sorosis Club of New York, and several of the women's press clubs of the United States.

Anna Elizabeth Buchanan 1856 ~
Was born in Trinity, Newfoundland, in 1856, and was the daughter of Rev. David and Elizabeth Roper Martin. She was a direct descendant of Thomas Moore, who suffered martyrdom during the reign of King Henry VIII of England. Her husband was a missionary in Newfoundland, acting also as physician. Mrs. Buchanan for some years conducted a publication. The Voice of the Deaf, for deaf mutes, and also was the founder of a mission in England, and contributor to the Catholic World, She was a convert to Roman Catholicism.

Sarah Buell (Mrs. David Hale) 1788 ~ 1879
Author and magazine editor, was born in Newport, New Hampshire. When a young girl, the first regular novel she read was "Mysteries of Udolpho," which, noting it was written by a woman, awakened in her an ardent desire to become an author herself. Her first work, however, was a small volume of fugitive poetry; then "Northward," in two volumes. Her first novel was issued in 1827. Afterwards she was given charge of the editorial department of the Lady's Magazine, then published in Boston. In 1837 the Lady's Magazine united with the Lady's Book, published by Godey, in Philadelphia, and in 1841 Mrs. Hill removed to that city editing the double magazine. She has written a large number of books. The most notable of these are "Sketches of American Character," "Traits of American Life," "Flora's Interpreter," "The Lady's Wreath," a selection from the familiar poets of England and America; "The Way to Live Well and be Well While You Live," "Grosvenor," "Alice Ray," a romance in rhyme; "Harry Guy," "The Widow's Son," a story of the sea; "Three Hours or Vigils of Love," and other poems, and, finally, "Woman's Regret."

Lelia Hardin Bugg
Author of "The Correct Thing for Catholics," "The Prodigal's Daughter," "Correct English" and "The People of Our Parish." She took a special course in philosophy and modem languages at Trinity College, Washington, D. C.

B. Ellen Burke 1850 ~
Was born in Lawrence County, New York, in 1850. Her husband was Charles A. Burke, a lawyer of Malone, New York. In 1896, she organized the Teachers' Institutes for the instructors in Catholic schools, and teachers were brought together from all the states. Her assistants were among the ablest Catholic teachers of the country. She originated and improved the methods of teaching in the Sunday Schools. Has given talks and lectures at the Catholic summer schools of Madison, and Detroit, Michigan, and also the Catholic winter school of New Orleans. In 1889 she accepted the position of editor for the Catholic publishers, D. H. McBride and Company, and in 1900 published the Sunday Companion, a periodical for young Catholics, and on the retirement of these publishers from business, she bought the paper and has since been its owner and editor. She has published also a Catholic monthly called The Helper, intended for teachers and parents. Has written and compiled a set of readers for Catholic schools and two geographies. Is a prominent contributor to other periodicals beside her own. She taught the first "Method Class," and started the New York Normal School for Catechists, the faculty of which now numbers twenty-eight.

Katherine Jeannette Bush 1855 ~
Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, December 30, 1855. Was assistant in the zoological department of Yale University. Was a member of the United States Fish Commission for several years and assisted in revising Webster's dictionary, which is now published under the title of "Webster's International Dictionary." Author of several zoological works. Writer of scientific journals, and is cue of the noted scientific women of America.

Mary W. Calkins 1863 ~ 1932
Miss Calkins is head of the Department of Philosophy and Psychology at Wellesley College. She was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1863, and is the daughter of Wolcott and Charlotte Grosvenor Whiton Calkins. Miss Calkins is a graduate of Smith College of the Class of 1885, where she received the degrees of A.B. and A.M. She has written several books on psychology and numerous monographs and papers on psychological and philosophical questions.

Annie Payson Call 1853 ~
Born in Arlington, Massachusetts, May 17, 1853. Daughter of Henry E. and Emily (Payson) Call. Teacher of nerve training. Author of works entitled "Power Through Repose," "The Freedom of Life," "A Man of the World" and "Nerves and Common-Sense."

Mary Gilmore Carter 1867 ~
Was born in 1867 in Boston, Massachusetts, and was the daughter of Patrick S. Gilmore, the famous band leader. Her husband was John P. Carter, a prominent business man of New York City. Mrs. Carter is the author of a book of verse and a novel entitled "A Son of Esau" and "Songs from the Wings;" is a contributor to the Catholic World, The Coming Age, Frank Leslie's and many other magazines and periodicals.

Phoebe Cary 1824 ~ 1871
Was born September 4, 1824, in the old homestead at Clover Nook, Hamilton County, Ohio. Her writings were noted for their sincerity and sweetness. Her gifts were hardly inferior to those of her sister, Alice, whom she outlived but one year and a half, dying July 31, 1871.

Alice Cary Sisters 1820 ~ 1870
The Cary sisters stand out as the most prominent poetical writers of the state of Ohio. Alice Cary was born April 26, 1820, on the farm of her father, situated within the present limits of Mount Healthy, Ohio. In 1832, the family moved to a larger residence near their former home, and it was christened "Clover Nook." Alice Cary had only the advantages of ordinary school education, but began early in life to contribute literary compositions, and at the age of eighteen, her first poetical adventure, "The Child of Sorrow," to the Sentinel and Star, a Universalist paper of Cincinnati. Gradually her reputation spread and she contributed to many papers, among them, the National Mirror of Washington. D. C, the editor of which, Dr. Bailey, was the first to consider her writings worthy of pecuniary reward. In 1848, her name appeared first among the female poets of America, and in 1850, a small collection of poems by Alice and Phoebe Cary made their first appearance. Horace Greeley and John G. Whittier were among the warm friends and literary admirers of the Cary sisters. In 1860 Alice moved to New York City, and on February 12, 1870, she died.

Emma Forbes Carey 1833 ~
Was born in Boston Massachusetts, October 10, 1833. She is descended from English ancestry, one of whom. Sir William Carey, was mayor and sheriff of Bristol, England in the reign of Henry VIII. Miss Carey has devoted her life for twenty-five years to the needs of the unfortunate inmates of prisons. She is a contributor to the Catholic World, The Young Catholic and the Ave Maria.

Caroline Van Dusen Chenoweth 1846
Born near Louisville, Kentucky, December 29, 1846. Daughter of Charles and Mary Huntington Van Dusen. Married Col. Benard Peel Chenoweth, who was United States Consul at Canton, China, and died while occupying this position. Mrs. Chenoweth settled his affairs with the government and received recognition from the United States and the Chinese government as vice-consul. Was professor at one time of English literature in Smith College; also lecturer on history and English literature. Author of "Child Life in China," "School History of Worcester," and other historical books. Contributor to various magazines and reviews.

Helen Archibald Clarke
Born in Philadelphia. Daughter of Hugh Archibald and Jane M. Searle Clarke; lecturer on mythology in Philadelphia, also on literary topics; has edited, in connection with Charlotte Porter, the "Poems of Robert Browning," "Clever Tales," from the French, Russian and Bohemian; "Browning's Complete Works," and a folio edition of Shakespeare; author of "Browning's England," 'Browning's Italy," "Longfellow's Country," "Child's Guide to Mythology." "Ancient Myths in Modern Poets," in conjunction with Charlotte Porter; "Browning's Study Programmes," "Shakespeare Studies Macbeth' and is also a composer of music and songs; writer of articles, essays and reviews on poetry, and one of the founders of the American Musical Society.

Eleanor Habawell Abbot Coburn 1872
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, September 22, 1872. Daughter of Rev. Edward and Clara Davis Abbot. In 1908 she married Dr. Fordice Coburn, of Lowell, Massachusetts. In October, 1905, won the thousand dollar prize offered by Collier with her story, "The Sick Abed Lady," and again in 1907 with one entitled "The Very Tired Girl," and in Howell's selections of the best short stories these are mentioned. Has been a contributor to magazines.

Caroline Elizabeth Corbin 1835 ~
Was born November 9, 1835, in Pomfret, Connecticut. Some of her ancestors on her mother's side came over from England in the Mayflower, and those of a later generation founded the city of Pomfret. In 1861 she married Calvin R. Corbin, and they removed to Chicago, Illinois. She is the author of quite a number of books, among which are "Our Bible Class and the Good that Came from It," "Rebecca, or a Woman's Secret," "His Marriage Vow," "A Woman's Philosophy of Love," etc. At one time she was president of the Chicago Society for the Promotion of Social Purity and president of a society opposed to the extension of suffrage to women.

Grace McGowan Cooke 1863 ~
Mrs. Cooke was born at Grand Rapids, Ohio, September 11, 1863. She is the daughter of John E. and Melvina J. McGowan. Married William Cooke, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, February 17, 1877, and was the first woman president of the Woman's Press Club of Tennessee. Her writings are among the best known of our country. Among them are "Mistress Joy," "Return," "Hulda," "A Gourd Fiddle," "Their First Formal Call," and many contributions to the best magazines.

Mary Coolidge 1860 ~
Mrs. Coolidge was born at Kingsbury, Indiana, October 28, 1860. Daughter of Prof. Isaac Roberts and Margaret Jane Roberts. Obtained a degree from Cornell in 1880, one from Leland Stanford in 1882. Her first husband was Albert W. Smith, of Berkeley, California; her second, Dane Coolidge. She served as a teacher of history in the Washington high school, also of Miss Nourse and Miss Robert's school of the Capital; also in private schools in Cincinnati, one of the board of examiners of Wesleyan College, Professor of Sociology of Stanford University, and one of the research assistants in the Carnegie Institute of Washington; also in the research work of San Francisco Relief Survey. Contributor of various articles on sociology and economics to the various magazines of our country. Has written on Chinese immigration and other subjects of public interest. Is considered one of the able women writers and thinkers of the country.

Mary Catherine Crowley
Daughter of J. C. and Mary Cameron Crowley, and was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She is descended from Scotch ancestry; editor of the Catholic Mission Magazine and The Annals of the Propagation of the Faith since 1907; author of "Merry Hearts and True," "Happy-Go-Lucky," "A Daughter of New France" and other short and historical stories. She was one of the historians on the "Memorial History of Detroit," and is considered an authority on the early history of that city, and suggested and brought about the erection of a memorial tablet to Mme. Cadillac, the first white woman of the Northwest; is a contributor to the Catholic World, Ave Maria, St, Nicholas, Wide-Awake, Ladie's Home Journal, The Pilot, Donahoe's and other magazines.

Mary Bradford Crowninshield
Daughter of Judge John Melancthon and Sarah Elizabeth Hopkins Bradford. A descendant from Gov. William Bradford, of the Plymouth colony. In July 1870 married A. Schuyler Crowninshield, who died in May, 1908. Has written several stories, among them "A Romance of the West Indies," ''Where the Trade Wind Blows," "All Among the Light-Houses," "The Light-House Children Abroad," "San Isidro," and "The Archbishop and the Lady."

Women of America

Source: The Part Taken by Women in American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.