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Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1832 - 1888

Biography

Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) was an American novelist.

Louisa May Alcott, author of the "Little Women" series, was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, on November 29, 1832, to Bronson and Abigail (Abba) May Alcott. In 1840, the Alcotts moved to Concord, Massachusetts, where their neighbors included Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. During the short time the Alcotts lived in Concord, Louisa began to write dramas for her sisters to enact in the barn. The memories of these barnyard melodramas and other childhood experiences would later find their way into Louisa's books, especially "Little Women."

After a trip to Europe in 1842 to visit an experimental school named for him, Bronson Alcott returned with Charles Lane and Henry Wright. With them, Bronson bought a farm in Harvard, Massachusetts, called "Fruitlands," and there developed a utopian society for his family. Mr. Alcott's experiments with cold baths, linen tunics, and vegetarian diets were not compatible with the harsh New England winter, and the Alcott family suffered from poor health and poverty until Bronson finally gave up on his "New Eden" scheme. The Alcotts then began a series of moves to and from Boston and Concord as Mr. Alcott searched for new means to support his family.

In September 1851, Louisa's first poem, entitled "Sunlight," was published in Peterson's Magazine under the pseudonym of "Flora Fairfield." This was followed by several other "Flora Fairfield" compositions, including a book of fairy stories written for Emerson's daughter, Ellen. Louisa's first novel, "Moods," was begun in 1860-1861. Her progress was impeded, however, by a desire to nurse soldiers wounded in the Civil War. She was accepted as a nurse by the Union Hotel Hospital in December 1862. In August 1863, Louisa's letters to her family describing her experiences as a nurse were published in Hospital Sketches, under the pseudonym "Tribulation Periwinkle." "Moods" was finally published in December 1864.

During the mid to late 1860s, Louisa attempted another type of writing style which she called her "blood and thunder stories." These gothic romances were written under the pen name "A. M. Barnard.” Louisa also began her career as a children's author in 1867 as the editor of the juvenile magazine, Merry's Museum.

In September of 1867, Thomas Niles of Roberts Brothers Publishing asked Louisa if she would write a children's book for him and, in May 1868, "Little Women" began to take shape. In this children's novel about the March family, Louisa encapsulated the Alcott home, presenting a cheerful account of her own early life in New England. The book gained instant recognition upon its publication in 1869. During the 1870s, Louisa published prolifically, completing at least one book per year.

Toward the end of her life, Lousia constantly suffered from poor health, concentrating on rearing her niece, Louisa May ("Lulu") Nieriker, the daughter of her sister May and Ernest Nieriker. May had died in 1879 shortly after Lulu's birth. In June of 1887, Louisa began her last novel, "A Garland for Girls," which was published in November. In July of 1887, she wrote and signed her will. On March 6, 1887, Louisa May Alcott died in Boston, Massachusetts. She was fifty-six years old.

Citation:
Gulliver, L. Louisa May Alcott, a bibliography ... 1932.

nuc88-133929: Her Hospital sketches [MI] 1863 (hdg. on NNC-T rept.: Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888; usage: L.M. Alcott)

Jo's boys, 1983: t.p. (Louisa M. Alcott)

MWA/NAIP files (hdg.: Alcott, Louisa May, 1832-1888; usage: Louisa M. Alcott; author of Little women; author of An old-fashioned girl; author of Little men; author of Hospital sketches; author of Kitty's class-day; author of Moods; author of Aunt Jo's scrap-bag; author of Work; author of Aunt Kipp; author of Eight cousins; author of Psyche's art)

Wikipedia, Dec. 9, 2010 (Louisa May Alcott; b. Nov. 29, 1832 in Germantown (Philadelphia), Pa.; d. Mar. 6, 1888 in Boston, Mass.; American novelist)

Selected letters of Louisa May Alcott, 1995, via WWW, viewed April 20, 2022 (letters signed: Lou, Louy, Louisa, L. M. Alcott, L. M. A.)

UPB files, March 27, 2024 (Born to Bronson and Abigail (Abba) May Alcott; 1840, the Alcotts moved to Concord, Massachusetts, where neighbors included Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Louisa began to write dramas for her sisters to enact in the barn. The memories of these barnyard melodramas and other childhood experiences would later find their way into Louisa's books, especially Little Women. After a trip to Europe in 1842 to visit an experimental school named for him, Bronson Alcott returned with Charles Lane and Henry Wright. With them, bought a farm in Harvard, Massachusetts, called "Fruitlands," developed a utopian society for his family. Mr. Alcott's experiments with cold baths, linen tunics, and vegetarian diets were not compatible with the harsh New England winter, and the Alcott family suffered from poor health and poverty until Bronson finally gave up on "New Eden" scheme. Began a series of moves to and from Boston and Concord as Mr. Alcott searched for new means to support his family. September 1851, Louisa's first poem, titled "Sunlight," was published in Peterson's Magazine under pseudonym of "Flora Fairfield." Followed by several other "Flora Fairfield" compositions, including a book of fairy stories for Emerson's daughter, Ellen. First novel, Moods, was begun in 1860-1861. Progress impeded by a desire to nurse soldiers wounded in the Civil War; Accepted as a nurse by the Union Hotel Hospital in December 1862. In August 1863, letters to her family describing experiences as a nurse were published in Hospital Sketches, under the pseudonym "Tribulation Periwinkle." Moods published in December 1864. During the mid to late 1860s, attempted another type of writing style, "blood and thunder stories." Gothic romances written under the pen name A. M. Barnard. Began career as a children's author in 1867 as the editor of the juvenile magazine, Merry's Museum. In September of 1867, Thomas Niles of Roberts Brothers Publishing asked if she would write a children's book for him and, in May 1868, Little Women began to take shape. Novel about the March family, encapsulated the Alcott home, presenting a cheerful account of her own early life in New England. Gained instant recognition upon its publication in 1869. During the 1870s, Louisa published prolifically, completing at least one book per year. Toward the end of her life, Lousia constantly suffered from poor health, concentrating on rearing her niece, Louisa May ("Lulu") Nieriker, the daughter of her sister May and Ernest Nieriker. May had died in 1879 shortly after Lulu's birth. In June of 1887, began last novel, A Garland for Girls, published in November. In July of 1887, she wrote and signed her will. On March 6, 1887, Louisa May Alcott died in Boston, Massachusetts at 56)

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records:

Collection on Louisa May Alcott and family

 Collection — Box 2: [Barcode: 31197239135590]
Identifier: Vault MSS 503
Scope and Contents Contains handwritten and signed letters of Louisa May Alcott and her sister, May Alcott Nieriker, and other family members, friends, and associates. The letters are of both a private and professional nature, and discuss social engagements, familial affairs, writing schedules, and upcoming publications. Also included are two photocopied portraits, a sound recording and transcript of a 1947 radio adaptation of "Little Women," and various other writings by Alcott. Materials dated 1837-1947,...
Dates: Majority of material found within 1837-1947; Majority of material found within 1837-1888

Louisa May Alcott papers, approximately 1840-1947, bulk: 1862-1888

 Series
Identifier: Vault MSS 503 Series 1
Scope and Contents Contains correspondence with family, friends, and others about Louisa May Alcott's writing and publishing work, daily life, family events and struggles, housing and finances, travel, etc. Writings include two poems, two short stories, and manuscript fragments of two novels, as well as a radio adaptation of "Little Women" from 1947. Also includes a cancelled check signed by Alcott, and two photocopies of portraits made near the end of Alcott's life. Materials dated approximately 1840 to 1947...
Dates: approximately 1840-1947; Majority of material found within 1862-1888

Louisa May Alcott portraits, approximately 1886

 Sub-Series
Identifier: Vault MSS 503 Series 1 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents

Contains a lithograph and photograph, both photocopies, of Louisa May Alcott, by James Notman. Dated approximately 1886.

Dates: approximately 1886

Filtered By

  • Subject: Portraits X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 2
Collection 1
 
Subject
Audiocassettes 2
Letters 2
Women authors 2
American poetry 1
Authors, American -- 19th century 1