Harriett Lothrop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harriett M. Stone Lothrop
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Circa 1897
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| Born | Harriett M. Stone June 22, 1844 New Haven, Connecticut |
| Died | August 2, 1924 (aged 80) |
| Pen name | Margaret Sidney |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Education | Miss Dutton's School, Grove Hall, New Haven (1862) |
| Genre | Children's fiction |
| Notable works | Five Little Peppers and 11 sequels |
| Spouse | Daniel Lothrop |
| Children | Margaret Lothrop (daughter, b. circa 1883) |
Harriett Lothrop was an American writer. She is also known by her pen name, Margaret Sidney. She was born on June 22, 1844, and passed away on August 2, 1924. Harriett wrote many popular children's books. After her husband died, she also ran his publishing company. She and her husband bought a historic house called The Wayside. They worked hard to make it a place for writers.
Contents
Harriett Lothrop's Life Story
Harriett Mulford Stone was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1844. Her father, Sidney Mason Stone, was an architect. Harriett grew up surrounded by books and learning. She loved making up stories and characters from a young age.
Early Education and Travel
She went to schools near her home. In 1862, she graduated from Miss Dutton's School. Teachers noticed her sharp mind and great imagination. She traveled a lot around the United States. Harriett started writing early in her life. She wrote constantly but often destroyed her stories.
Becoming a Published Author
Harriett did not publish anything until 1878. She was 34 years old then. She started sending short stories to Wide Awake. This was a children's magazine in Boston. Two of her stories became very popular. These were "Polly Pepper's Chicken Pie" and "Phronsie Pepper's New Shoes." The magazine's editor, Ella Farman, asked her to write more.
The Five Little Peppers Series
The success of her short stories led Harriett to write a book. It was called Five Little Peppers. This book later became a series with 11 more books. The first Five Little Peppers book came out in 1881. This was the same year Harriett married Daniel Lothrop. Daniel had started the D. Lothrop Company in Boston. His company published Harriett's books under her pen name, Margaret Sidney.
Life at The Wayside
Harriett and Daniel shared an interest in history. They also loved famous authors. In 1883, they bought a special house. Both Louisa May Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne had lived there. The house was called The Wayside. It is located in Concord, Massachusetts. A year after they moved in, Harriett had their daughter, Margaret. Harriett was 40 years old at the time.
Running a Publishing Company
Daniel Lothrop passed away on March 18, 1892. Harriett was 48, and their daughter Margaret was only nine. There was a break in the Five Little Peppers books. This was from 1892 to 1897. During this time, Harriett managed the publishing company. She later sold the company. It became Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. This company continued to publish Harriett's books. She started writing the Five Little Peppers series again. Harriett Lothrop lived to be 80 years old.
Founding the Children of the American Revolution
Harriett Lothrop is famous for starting the Children of the American Revolution. She first suggested the idea in 1895. This was at a meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The new group was officially formed on April 5, 1895. Harriett wanted to teach young people about patriotism. She aimed to help them love their country. Harriett was very important to this organization. She was its first Senior National President from 1895 to 1901. Her daughter Margaret was the very first member.
Harriett Lothrop's Other Interests
Harriett was also an early member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). In 1894, she helped start a new DAR chapter. This was the Old Concord Chapter in Concord, Massachusetts. She became its first president.
She enjoyed traveling to other countries. However, she spent many winters in California. The weather there was much nicer.
Preserving Historic Homes
Besides writing, Harriett loved old homes and buildings. She worked hard to save them. Some of the important homes she helped preserve include:
- The Wayside: This was her own family home.
- Orchard House: This house belonged to the Alcott family. It was right next door to The Wayside.
- Grapevine Cottage: This is where Ephraim Wales Bull created the Concord grape.
- The Tolman House: This old house in Dorchester, Massachusetts, was built long ago.
Later, Harriett's daughter, Margaret Lothrop, worked to make The Wayside a special place. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1963.
Books by Harriett Lothrop
Harriett Lothrop wrote more than 30 books. This list does not include her popular Five Little Peppers series.
- So as by Fire (Boston, 1881)
- Half Year at Bronckton (1882)
- The Pettibone Name (1883)
- What the Seven Did (1883)
- Who Told it to Me (1884)
- Ballad of the Lost Hare (1884)
- The Golden West (1885)
- How they Went to Europe (1885)
- Hester, and other New England Stories (1886)
- The Minute-Man (1886)
- Two Modern Little Princes (1887)
- Dilly and the Captain (1887)
- St. George and the Dragon (1888)
- Old Concord : Her Highways and Byways (1888, 1893)
- The Judges' Cave; Being a Romance of the New Haven Colony in the Days of the Regicides, 1661 (1900)
- A Little Maid of Concord Town (1898)
- A Little Maid of Boston Town (1910)
