SPOFFORD, Mrs. Harriet Prescott

Harriet Prescott Spofford, born on April 3, 1835, was an author, biographer, novelist, and poet.  A native of Calais, Maine, she attended Pinkerton Academy. Harriet became known in the literary world in 1859 when, as A Woman of the Century notes, "she published her Parisian story, 'In A Cellar,' in the 'Atlantic Monthly,' which at once brought her into notice" (674).  

In addition to Atlantic Monthly, she published in several periodicals, including Harper's Magazine, Independent, The North American Review, and Scribner's Magazine.  

Talented in a variety of fields, Harriet wrote several different types of books, including Art Decoration Applied to Furniture and The Marquis Of Carabas.  Her A Little Book of Friends was about ten of her friends.  Most of these women, including Louise Chandler Moulton, are in A Woman of the Century.

In addition to her literary activity, Harriet Prescott Spofford was a wife and mother who was very involved in the National Congress of Mothers.

Harriet passed away in Amesbury, Massachusetts on August 14, 1921, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

• Chicago tribune. (Chicago, Ill.), 12 March 1867. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014064/1867-03-12/ed-1/seq-2/>

• The Bedford gazette. (Bedford, Pa.), 30 Aug. 1867. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82005159/1867-08-30/ed-1/seq-3/>

• The Bedford gazette. (Bedford, Pa.), 24 Jan. 1868. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82005159/1868-01-24/ed-1/seq-2/>

• The Wichita daily eagle. (Wichita, Kan.), 30 April 1899. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014635/1899-04-30/ed-1/seq-15/>

• Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford Find A Grave