HAV-01-403-Z-K-202; Miscellaneous Manuscripts, Semi-bound, Box 10
GUSN-358999
This collection contains two printed poems of Edna Dean Proctor, two letters handwritten by Proctor, two books containing Proctor's poetry, and a brief, typed article about Proctor's life. The two printed poems are titled "Memories of New Hampshire" and "Save the Forests!"
The first letter, written in ink, was written to Proctor's grandmother, Sally Hilton Gould. In it, Proctor reflects on her memories with her grandparents and discusses her grandmother's health and age. She mentions an incident when Henry Ward Beecher's father fell ill but regained his health and shares that she and her half-sibling John Proctor spent an evening at the White House and met Abraham Lincoln. The second letter, written in 1906, is addressed to her cousin, Alfred B. Gould, the son of Proctor's uncle Gilbert Gould. She congratulates him on his recent engagement, sends her regards to his fiance, and apologizes that she will not be able to attend the wedding.
The two books are titled "Songs of America" and "The Complete Poetical Works of Edna Dean Proctor." "Songs of America" was published in 1905. This copy was originally owned by Alfred Gould. "The Complete Poetical Works of Edna Dean Proctor" was published in 1925. This copy was owned by Annie Gould Baker of Concord, New Hampshire, the sister of Alfred B. Gould. A card addressed to Baker from Nani Proctor and Grace van Praag was attached to the inside cover and placed with the other loose paper materials.
2 poems
2 letters
2 books
1 article
MS029
Miscellaneous manuscript collection
2011
MS029.002.023
Gift
1900, 1905-1906, circa 1913, 1925, undated
Gift of Sue B. Hanson, 2011
Proctor, Edna Dean, 1829-1923 (Author)
The envelope attached to the inside cover of "The Complete Poetical Works of Edna Dean Proctor" was removed and placed with the other loose printed materials.
Item
HAV-01-403-Z-K-202; Miscellaneous Manuscripts, Semi-bound, Box 10
Edna Dean Proctor (September 18, 1829-December 18, 1923) was an American author and poet. She was born in Henniker, New Hampshire, to John Proctor (1788-1836) and Lucinda (Gould) Thompson (1802-1878). She was primarily educated in Henniker, New Hampshire. and Concord, New Hampshire, with the exception of a year at Mount Holyoke Seminary. Following her education, she taught art and music in Woodstock, Connecticut, and New Haven, Connecticut, before moving to Brooklyn, New York, to serve as a governess for the Bowen family. This opportunity connected her with the intellectual elite, and among her friends were John Greenleaf Whittier and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. While in Brooklyn, she published her first book, "Life Thoughts, Gathered from the Extemporaneous Discourses of Henry Ward Beecher," in 1858. From there, Proctor began to travel around the United States and involved herself in the anti-slavery movement. During the Civil War, she wrote poems in support of abolition and the Union. In 1866, she traveled to Europe and the Middle East as a governess for the Storrs family of Brooklyn. She lived with the Storrs family until 1885, when she moved to Framingham, Massachusetts, to live with her mother and sister. She became part of the Boston literary community and was a member of the Boston Author's Club. Edna died on December 18, 1923 in Framingham. Throughout her life, she wrote prolifically, although her popularity was at its height during the 1860s and 1870s.
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