Dr. Ann Preston

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In: Writing

Dr. Ann Preston (1813 to 1872) was an abolitionist, a physician, a women’s rights advocate, and a children’s book author. Early Life Born into a Quaker family, she became interested in hygiene and medicine while tending her dying mother and sister. As the eldest, she took responsibility for raising her six brothers. During this time, she also experienced the cruelty of slavery firsthand. Her father’s farm in West Grove, close to the Delaware border, was associated with the Underground Railroad. As a young girl she helped hide fugitive slaves and agonized when runaways were recaptured by slave catchers. This experience compelled her to fight forRead More →

A writer

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In: 18th Century Women, Authors, Poets, Writing

British-born Sara Hoding (1798 to ?) has left little mark on history. A poet and writer, she lived a quiet life hemmed in by the role assigned to her as a woman. However, she has left behind an amazing journal full of witty and keen observations and poetry about her daily life, about nature, and about her travels. The Land Log-Book; a Compilation of Anecdotes and Occurrences Extracted from the Journal Kept by the Author, during a Residence of Several Years in the United States of America. Containing Useful Hints to Those Who Intend to Emigrate to that Country was published in 1836 and providesRead More →

Ona Judge: I am Free

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In: 17th Century Women, Abolition, Women's Rights, Writing

This is a special guest post in honor of Black History Month written by my friend, and fellow biographical historical author, Diana Rubino. February is Black History Month, a celebration of achievements by African Americans and for recognizing their role in U.S. history. Ona Judge, Martha Washington’s ‘favorite servant’ (Mrs. Washington wouldn’t say ‘slave’), with her bravery, intelligence and shrewdness, escaped the Washingtons, outwitted her captors, and remained free for life. Thanks for making ONA JUDGE: I AM FREE an Amazon best seller. Ona’s Story Teenaged Ona (known as “Oney”) Judge was Martha Washington’s ‘favorite servant.’ Oney and Martha both longed for freedom, but inRead More →

Jane Grey Swisshelm

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In: 19th Century Women, Abolition, Activists, Authors, Civil War, Journalists, Women's Rights, Writing

JANE GREY SWISSHELM (December 6, 1815 -July 22, 1884) was a journalist, abolitionist, publisher, and advocate for women’s rights. Early Life Born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, she was raised by her widowed mother. Bright and energetic, she began as a teacher, but was drawn to journalism. After a difficult marriage to a farmer and a subsequent divorce, she moved to Minnesota and became editor and publisher of the St. Cloud Visiter. She was outspoken in her support of abolition, women’s rights, and against capital punishment. She was known to be full of righteous fury. For example, she hounded a Southerner who had moved to Minnesota withRead More →

Elizabeth F. Ellet American writer

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In: 19th Century Women, Authors, Playwrights, Poets, Writing

Throughout history, many important accomplishments by women have been overshadowed by the so-called scandalous things they have reportedly done. Elizabeth Fries Ellet (October 18, 1818 – June 3, 1877) is a perfect example of this. A noted writer and historian of her time, whose wide-ranging work is still consulted today, Ellet has gone down in history, not as a gifted writer, but as one contemporary blog maintains, “a bad woman.” This is despite the fact that all accounts of her “nasty” behavior were recorded by the men directly involved in the scandal. Ellet’s Background Born in Sodus, New York to a well-to-do physician’s family, ElletRead More →

Anna Elizabeth Dickinson

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In: 19th Century Women, Abolition, Activists, Civil War, Women's Rights, Writing

Anna Dickinson (1842-1932) was a major celebrity of her time. She drew crowds of thousands, headlined newspapers, and consorted with the major figures of the day. For an ordinary girl from a nondescript family, this was a heady experience, especially since she found this fame at a young age. She was only sixteen when newspapers started taking notice of her. Early readers of my forthcoming novel have said the character of Anna is arrogant and hard to like. And she is. As a writer, I felt that this was the truest way to represent her personality and explain the choices she made. My characterization ofRead More →

Frances Burney

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In: 18th Century Women, Literature, Writing

At the age of fifteen, Frances Burney (1752-1840) tossed the plays, poems, and first novel she had written into a bonfire. Why? She was consumed with guilt. After all, in 1767, women were not supposed to spend their time writing anything but private letters. Better they perform useful household chores and fine needlework. Luckily, Frances Burney’s resolve to be a proper lady did not last more than nine months at which time she began a journal which is remarkable recounting of the history and personages of the late 18th and early 19th century. Over a lifetime that took her from England to France and back toRead More →

Charlotte Forten Grimke

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In: 19th Century Women, Abolition, Civil War, Writing

 Charlotte Forten Grimke was born in 1838 to a wealthy black family in Philadelphia. All her life she was a lover of books and a vociferous opponent of prejudice based on skin color. When she was twenty-two she became ill and had to give up her job as a teacher in Salem, Massachusetts. Unable to be active, she read voraciously, often a book a day, recording her thoughts in her journal. “…how blessed it is to know that all the wealth of the ages can be ours, if we choose to grasp it! That we can live, not in this century, this corner of theRead More →