NOAH WEBSTER. Ct. 1758–1843. Cf. Mavor in England. Author: New England
Spelling Book; American Dictionary. Reference: Memoir by Goodrich
(in Dictionary); Life by H. E. Scudder; Appleton.[45]
JEDIDIAH MORSE. Ct. 1761–1826. Congregational minister; wrote first
school text-books of any importance in America. His son was S.
F. B. Morse. Author: Geography Made Easy, etc. He is called the
“Father of American Geography.” Reference: Life by Sprague;
Appleton.
THOMAS HOPKINS GALLAUDET. Ct. 1787–1851. Minister. Educator of deaf
mutes; in this work assisted by wife, Sophia Fowler (1798–1877),
and two sons. Author: The Child’s Book of the Soul; The Youth’s
Book of Natural Theology; Bible Stories for the Young. Reference:
Life by Humphrey; Tribute to T. H. G. by Henry Barnard (Hartford,
Conn., 1852); Appleton.
ELIZA LESLIE. Pa. 1787–1857. Wrote cook books, girls’ books, and
juvenile tales for _The Pearl and The Violet_, which she edited
annually. She also edited _The Gift_. One of her brothers, a
well-known artist. Author: The Young Americans; Stories for
Adelaide; Stories for Helen; The Behaviour Book. The Wonderful
Traveller consisted of altered versions of tales from Münchausen,
Gulliver, etc. Reference: Appleton.
MRS. SARAH JOSEPHA (BUELL) HALE. N. H. 1788–1879. It was through her
efforts that Thanksgiving became an American national observance.
Her son, Horatio, was an author. Author: The famous “Mary had a
little lamb.” Edited _Lady’s Book_ for forty years from 1837.
Reference: Appleton.
CATHERINE MARIA SEDGWICK. Mass. 1789–1867. Author: The Boy of Mount
Rhigi, a tale of inspired goodness; Beatitudes and Pleasant
Sundays; The Poor Rich Man and the Rich Poor Man; A Love Token for
Children; Morality of Manners; Lessons without Books. Reference:
Hart’s Female Prose Writers of America; Life and Letters, ed. Mary
E. Dewey; Appleton.
MRS. SUSAN (RIDLEY) SEDGWICK. Mass. 1789–1867. Author: Walter Thornley;
Morals of Pleasure; The Young Emigrants. Reference: Appleton.
MRS. LYDIA HOWARD (HUNTLEY) SIGOURNEY. Ct. 1791–1865. Author: Letters
to Young Ladies; Poetry for Children; Tales and Essays for
Children. Reference: Griswold’s Female Poets; Hart’s Female Prose
Writers; Life and Letters; Parton’s Eminent Women; Appleton.
MRS. CAROLINE (HOWARD) GILMAN. Mass. 1794–1888. Took great pride in her
children’s books. Began writing in _Southern Rosebud_ (Charleston),
afterward called _Southern Rose_ (1832–1839). This magazine has
been credited as the first juvenile weekly in the United States.
Her daughter, Caroline H. (b. S. C. 1823), also wrote for the
young. Author: Oracles for Youth; Mrs. Gilman’s Gift Book.
Reference: Autobiographical sketch in Hart’s Female Prose Writers;
Recollections; Appleton.
MRS. LOUISA C. (HUGGINS) TUTHILL. Ct. 1798–1897. Wrote moral tales;
with others prepared Juvenile Library for Boys and Girls; her
daughter, Cornelia (T.) Pierson (1820–1870), wrote Our Little
Comfort; When Are We Happiest? Author: I will be a Gentleman; I
will be a Lady; I will be a Sailor; Onward, Right Onward. Edited
the Young Ladies Reader (New Haven, 1840). Reference: Hart;
Appleton.
JOHN TODD. Vt. 1800–1873. Invented Index Rerum. Author: Religious
works, mainly for young people; also educational works. Reference:
Life; _Harper’s Magazine_, Feb., 1876.
LYDIA MARIA CHILD. Mass. 1802–1880. Foremost in the ranks of
anti-slavery; influenced by Garrison. In 1826, founded the
_Juvenile Miscellany_, forerunner of Harper’s _Young People_.
Author: Flowers for Children (graded). Reference: Hart; Nat. Cyclo.
Am. Biog.
MARIA J. MCINTOSH. Ga. 1803–1878. Quiet and domestic tone to her books.
Author: Series known as the Aunt Kitty Tales, the first one being
Blind Alice, published in 1841. Reference: Hart.
DR. HARVEY NEWCOMB. Mass. 1803–1866. Congregational clergyman. Wrote
moral and religious books for young. Author: How to be a Man; How
to be a Lady; Young Ladies’ Guide. Reference: Appleton.
REV. JACOB ABBOTT. Me. 1803–1879. Divinity school; Professor at
Amherst; Congregationalist. Travelled extensively. Author: Rollo
books (28 vols.); Lucy books (6 vols.); Jonas books (6 vols.);
Franconia books (10 vols.); histories with brother (_vide_ p. 160).
Reference: A Neglected N. E. Author (_N. E. Mag._, n. s. 30:471);
Writings (_Lit. and Theol. R._, 3:83); (_Chr. Exam._, 18:133;
21:306); Appleton.
REV. ABIJAH RICHARDSON BAKER. Mass. 1805–1876. Congregationalist.
Graduate of Amherst; a teacher. With his wife, Mrs. H. N. W.
Baker, edited _The Mother’s Assistant_ and _The Happy Home_.
Author: School History of the U. S.; Westminster Shorter
Catechism--Graduated Question Book. Reference: Appleton.
J. S. C. ABBOTT. Me. 1805–1877. Brother of Jacob Abbott.
Congregational minister. Author: The Mother at Home; histories with
brother. Reference: _Cong. Q._, 20:1; Appleton.
SARAH TOWNE (SMITH) MARTYN. 1805–1879. Wife of a minister. Wrote
Sunday-school books and semi-historical stories. Published through
American Tract Society. Established _Ladies’ Wreath_, and edited
it, 1846–1851. Author: Huguenots of France; Lady Alice Lisle.
Reference: Appleton.
MRS. ELIZABETH OAKES (PRINCE) SMITH. Me. 1806–1893. One of the first
women lecturers in America. Moved later to South Carolina. By her
book, The Newsboy, public attention was drawn to that class of
child. Supervised, _circa_ 1840, annual issuance of the _Mayflower_
(Boston). Author: The Sinless Child; Stories for Children; Hints on
Dress and Beauty. Reference: Hart; Nat. Cyclo. Am. Biog.
MARY STANLEY BUNCE (PALMER) (DANA) SHINDLER. S. C. 1810–1883. Wife
of a clergyman, Episcopal. Author: Charles Morton; or, The Young
Patriot; The Young Sailor. Reference: Appleton.
HARRIET BEECHER STOWE. Ct. 1811–1896. Author: Dred; Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Reference: Life work of,--McCray; E. F. Parker in Parton’s Eminent
Women; Life compiled from letters and journals by C. E. Stowe; Life
and Letters, ed. Annie Fields.
ELIJAH KELLOGG. Me. 1813-. Congregational minister. Famed for “The
Address of Spartacus to the Gladiators.” Author: Elm Island series;
Forest Glen series; Good Old Times series; Pleasant Cove series.
Reference: Bibliog. Me.; Appleton.
MARY ELIZABETH LEE. S. C. 1813–1849. Not a distinctive juvenile writer,
but contributed many juvenile tales to _The Rosebud_. (_Vide_
Gilman.) Reference: Hart.
REV. ZACHARIAH ATWELL MUDGE. Mass. 1813–1888. Methodist-Episcopal
minister; teacher. Fiction for Sunday-schools. Author: Arctic
Heroes; Fur Clad Adventurers. Reference: Appleton.
MRS. HARRIET V. CHENEY. Mass. _Circa_ 1815. Daughter of Hannah Foster,
an early American novelist. Her sister, Mrs. Cushing, wrote Esther,
a dramatic poem, and “works” for the young. Author: A Peep at the
Pilgrims; The Sunday-school; or, Village Sketches. Reference:
Appleton.
MRS. HARRIETTE NEWELL (WOODS) BAKER. Mass. 1815–1893. Pseud. Madeline
Leslie. Wife of Rev. A. R. B. Author: About two hundred moral
tales, among them Tim, the Scissors Grinder. Reference: Appleton.
LYDIA ANN EMERSON (PORTER). Mass. 1816-. Second cousin of Ralph Waldo
Emerson. Contributed mostly to the Sunday-school type of book.
Author: Uncle Jerry’s Letters to Young Mothers; The Lost Will.
Reference: Appleton.
CATHERINE MARIA TROWBRIDGE. Ct. 1818-. Author: Christian Heroism;
Victory at Last; Will and Will Not; Snares and Safeguards.
SUSAN WARNER. N. Y. 1818–1885. Pseud. Elizabeth Wetherell. Books noted
for strained religious sentimentality. With her, the school of
Hannah More came to an end. Author: The Wide, Wide World (1851);
Queechy (1852); Say and Seal (in collaboration with her sister).
Reference: Appleton.
REV. WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THAYER. Mass. 1820–1898. Congregational
minister; member of legislature. Author: Youth’s History of the
Rebellion; The Bobbin Boy; The Pioneer Boy; The Printer Boy; Men
Who Win; Women Who Win. Edited _The Home Monthly_ and _The Mother’s
Assistant_. Reference: Appleton.
WILLIAM TAYLOR ADAMS. Mass. 1822–1897. Pseud. Oliver Optic. In early
life ed. _Student and School-Mate_. In 1881, ed. _Our Little Ones_.
Then ed. _Oliver Optic’s Magazine_. Author: About one hundred
volumes; first one published 1853, Hatchie, the Guardian Slave.
Reference: Appleton.
CHARLES CARLETON COFFIN. N. H. 1823–1896. Self-educated. Varied career
as a war correspondent during the Civil War. Author: The Boys of
’76. Reference: Life by Griffis; Appleton.
WILLIAM HENRY THOMAS. 1824–1895. Belonged to the school of dime
novelists. Boys in the 60’s eagerly devoured the Beadle and (later)
Munro books. Author: The Belle of Australia; Ocean Rover; A
Whaleman’s Adventure. Reference: Appleton.
MRS. ALICE (BRADLEY) (NEAL) HAVEN. N. Y. 1828–1863. Pseud. Alice G.
Lee. Wrote for Sunday-schools. Author: No such Word as Fail;
Contentment Better Than Wealth. Reference: Memoir in _Harper’s
Magazine_, Oct., 1863; Appleton.
JANE ANDREWS. Mass. 1833–1887. Author: Seven Little Sisters who live on
the Round Ball that Floats in the Air; The Stories Mother Nature
Told.
CHARLES A. FOSDICK. N. Y. 1842-. Pseud. Harry Castlemon. Went through
the Civil War. Author: Gunboat series; Rocky Mountains series;
Roughing It series; Frank series; Archie series.
MRS. ANNIE M. MITCHELL. Mass. 1847-. Religious books for children.
Author: Martha’s Gift; Freed Boy in Alabama.
MRS. MARY L. CLARK. Fairford, Me. 1831-. Religious juveniles. Author:
The Mayflower series; Daisy’s Mission.
MRS. CAROLINE E. DAVIS. Northwood, N. H. 1831-. Sunday-school tales,
about fifty or more. Author: No Cross, No Crown; Little Conqueror
Series; Miss Wealthy’s Hope; That Boy; Child’s Bible Stories.
Reference: Appleton.
SARA H. BROWNE. Author: Book for the Eldest Daughter (1849).
MARIA J. BROWNE. Author: The Youth’s Sketch Book (1850). Reference for
both: Hart (Bibl.).