Amanda Minnie Douglas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amanda Minnie Douglas
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Photo from the New York Public Library
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| Born | July 14, 1831 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | July 18, 1916 (aged 85) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Resting place | Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Newark |
| Occupation | Author |
Amanda Minnie Douglas (born July 14, 1831 – died July 18, 1916) was an American author. She wrote many books for both grown-ups and young people. Kids in her time especially loved her Little Girl and Helen Grant book series. These popular books were published around the turn of the 20th century.
Contents
Early Life of Amanda Douglas
Amanda Minnie Douglas was born in New York City. She was the oldest daughter of John Douglas and Elizabeth Horton. She grew up in New York City. For a few years, her family lived on a farm near Poughkeepsie, New York.
Amanda studied art design at the City Institute of New York City. But her family needed help, so she used her writing talent instead. In 1853, Amanda and her family moved to Newark, New Jersey. She lived there for the rest of her life.
Amanda Douglas's Writing Career
Amanda Douglas started her writing career by sending short stories and poems to local newspapers and magazines. Soon, her stories appeared in famous publications. These included The New York Ledger, Saturday Evening Post, and Lady’s Friend Magazine.
Her very first novel, In Trust, came out in 1866. It sold about 20,000 copies! After this first book, Amanda made sure to keep the copyrights for all her future works. This meant she owned the rights to her books. She continued to publish at least one new novel every year. She kept writing until she retired in 1913.
Over her nearly 50-year career, Amanda Douglas wrote many books. Some of her popular series for young readers included:
- Kathie's Stories for Young People (6 books)
- Little Girl in New York (and other "Little Girl" books set in different cities)
- Helen Grant's School Days (and other "Helen Grant" books)
Amanda Douglas's Private Life
Amanda Douglas never married. She spent much of her life caring for her younger sister, Annie, who was often sick.
Amanda was also an inventor! She created a special design for a portable folding mosquito net frame. This was useful for travelers and artists. She also helped other people improve their inventions.
Amanda Douglas was friends with the famous author Louisa May Alcott. She also knew Edgar Allan Poe. She was an active member of two groups in Newark: the Ray Palmer Club, which was a women's literary group, and the New Jersey Women's Press Club.
Death of Amanda Douglas
Amanda Douglas passed away on July 18, 1916. She died at her home in Newark, New Jersey. This was just four days after her 85th birthday. Her funeral was held at St. James Episcopal Church in Newark. She was buried next to her sister in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
Works by Amanda Minnie Douglas
The dates next to the titles show when the books were published or copyrighted.
The Kathie Stories
- Kathie's Three Wishes, 1873
- Kathie's Aunt Ruth, 1871
- Kathie's Summer at Cedarwood, 1898
- Kathie's Soldiers, 1871
- In the Ranks (also known as Kathie in the Ranks), 1872
- Kathie's Harvest Days, 1883
Follow up to The Kathie Stories
- Whom Kathie Married, 1883
Sherburne Series
- Sherburne House, 1892
- Lyndell Sherburne, 1893
- Sherburne Cousins, 1894
- A Sherburne Romance, 1895
- The Mistress of Sherburne, 1896
- The Children at Sherburne House, 1897
- Sherburne Girls, 1898
- The Heir of Sherburne, 1899
- A Sherburne Inheritance, 1901
- A Sherburne Quest, 1902
- Honor Sherburne, 1904
- In the Sherburne Line, 1907
A Little Girl Series
- A Little Girl in Old New York, 1896
- A Little Girl of Long Ago; Or, Hannah Ann, 1897
- A Little Girl in Old Boston, 1898
- A Little Girl in Old Philadelphia, 1899
- A Little Girl in Old Washington, 1900
- A Little Girl in New Orleans, 1901
- A Little Girl in Old Detroit, 1902
- A Little Girl in Old St. Louis, 1903
- A Little Girl in Old Chicago, 1904
- A Little Girl in Old San Francisco, 1905
- A Little Girl in Old Quebec, 1906
- A Little Girl in Old Baltimore, 1907
- A Little Girl in Old Salem, 1908
- A Little Girl in Old Pittsburg, 1909
The Helen Grant Books
- Helen Grant's Schooldays, 1903
- Helen Grant's Friends, 1904
- Helen Grant at Aldred House, 1905
- Helen Grant in College, 1906
- Helen Grant, Senior, 1907
- Helen Grant, Graduate, 1908
- Helen Grant, Teacher, 1909
- Helen Grant's Decision, 1910
- Helen Grant's Harvest Year, 1911
Little Red House Series
- The Children in the Little Old Red House, 1912
- The Red House Children at Grafton, 1913
- The Red House Children's Vacation, 1914
- The Red House Children's Year, 1915
- The Red House Children Growing Up, 1916
Other Books
- Stephen Dane, 1867
- Sydnie Adriance: Or, Trying the World, 1867
- Claudia, 1868
- In Trust; or, Dr. Bertrand's Household, 1868
- With Fate against Him, 1870
- Lucia: Her Problem, 1872
- Home Nook: Or, The Crown of Duty, 1874
- The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, 1874
- Nelly Kinnard's Kingdom, 1876
- Hope Mills: Or, Between Friend and Sweetheart, 1879
- Lost in a Great City, 1880
- Floyd Grandon's Honor, 1883
- A Woman's Inheritance, 1885
- Foes of Her Household, 1886
- A Modern Adam and Eve in a Garden, 1888
- The Fortunes of the Faradays, 1888
- Osborne of Arrochar, 1889
- The Midnight Marriage, 1890
- The Heirs of Bradley House, 1892
- In the King's Country, 1894
- In Wild Rose Time, 1894
- Her Place in the World, 1897
- Almost as Good as a Boy, 1900
- A Question of Silence, 1901
- A Modern Cinderella, 1913
Resources
- Works by Amanda Douglas, Amanda M. Douglas, and Amanda Minnie Douglas at Google Books
