H. Maria George Colby

American writer
Frederick Myron Colby
​
​
(m. 1882)​
RelativesAdelaide George Bennett (sister)

H. Maria George Colby (née, George; pen names, Clinton Montague, H. M. G., and H. Maria George; October 1, 1844 – March 29, 1910) was an American writer, newspaper editor, and social leader of the long nineteenth century. Her articles appeared in various publications, including the Housewife, Housekeeper, Housekeeper's Weekly, Christian at Work, Demorest's Monthly Magazine, Arthur's Lady's Home Magazine, The Youth's Companion, the Congregationalist, the Portland Transcript, Ladles' World, Good Cheer, The Philadelphia Press, the Chicago Ledger, the Golden Rule, the Household, Good Housekeeping and St. Nicholas Magazine. She served as fashion editor of the Household. Though she used various pen names, including "H. M. G." (in art and biographical sketches contributed to various periodicals) and "Clinton Montague",[1] her best known literary name was her maiden name, "H. Maria George".

Early life and education

Hannah Maria George was born in Warner, New Hampshire, October 1, 1844. Her parents were Gilman C. and Nancy Badger George. Gilman, born in 1820, died September 12, 1894, was a son of James and Hannah (Church) George, and a descendant of James George, who settled in Haverhill, Massachusetts, in 1653. He was a captain in the state militia in 1843–44, town clerk from 1868 to 1872, and selectman from 1885 to 1888. He was master of Warner Grange, president of the Kearsarge Agricultural Association, and was the first worshipful master of Harris Lodge, No. 91, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Warner.[2] Colby was of English descent on both sides of the family and inherited literary talents from ancestors connected with Daniel Webster.[3]

Career

While in her teens, she wrote a number of novelettes that were published in New York City and Philadelphia.[4] Later, she wrote considerably for juvenile publications, and she was also an acknowledged authority regarding domestic topics. Her articles appeared in the Housewife, Housekeeper, Housekeeper's Weekly, Christian at Work, Demorest's Monthly Magazine, Arthur's Lady's Home Magazine, The Youth's Companion, the Congregationalist, the Portland Transcript, Ladles' World, Good Cheer, The Philadelphia Press, the Chicago Ledger, the Golden Rule, the Household, Good Housekeeping and St. Nicholas For five years, she served as fashion editor of the "Household." She used various pseudonyms, but was best known to editors and the public by her maiden name. H. Maria George. A staunch advocate of temperance and equal rights for both sexes, she furthered these through her writing.[3]

Personal life

She married Frederick Myron Colby, the littérateur,[4] December 24, 1882.[2] They resided in Warner, and she died there on March 29, 1910.[5]

Selected works

Non-fiction

  • 1885, "The Medieval Housewife"[6]
  • 1885, "The Pets of Noted Persons"[7]
  • 1885, "The Home of Juliet and Romeo"[8]
  • 1888, "The City of the White Swan"[9]
  • 1888, "A Notable Place"[10]

Short stories

  • 1882, "Hermann the Brave"[11]
  • 1905, "The Old Widow and Her Cat"[12]

Poems

  • 1901, "Then we shall see"[13]
  • 1906, "Bring out the flag: Memorial Day poem"[14]

References

  1. ^ Cushing, William (1885). Initials and pseudonyms; a dictionary of literary disguises. New York, T. Y. Crowell & Co. pp. 108, 196. Retrieved 26 August 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b Lewis Publishing Company 1908, p. 1570.
  3. ^ a b Willard & Livermore 1893, p. 190.
  4. ^ a b New Hampshire Publishing Company 1895, p. 77.
  5. ^ Bradford Historical Society 2004, p. 95.
  6. ^ T.S. Arthur & Sons 1885, pp. 652–53.
  7. ^ T.S. Arthur & Sons 1885, p. 721.
  8. ^ T.S. Arthur & Sons 1885, pp. 267–71.
  9. ^ Godey Company 1888, p. 196.
  10. ^ Godey Company 1888, p. 426.
  11. ^ George, H. Maria (1882). "HERMANN THE BRAVE". St. Nicholas. Vol. 9. Scribner & Company. pp. 93–95. Retrieved 26 August 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  12. ^ George, H. Maria (1905). "THE OLD WIDOW AND HER CAT". St. Nicholas. Vol. 32. Scribner & Company. pp. 911–25. Retrieved 26 August 2022. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  13. ^ Metcalf 1901, p. 244.
  14. ^ Granite Monthly Co. 1906, p. 158.

Bibliography

  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: T.S. Arthur & Sons (1885). Arthur's Home Magazine (Public domain ed.). T.S. Arthur & Sons.
  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Bradford Historical Society (2004). Early families of Bradford, New Hampshire (Public domain ed.). Bradford Historical Society (N.H.).
  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Godey Company (1888). Godey's Magazine (Public domain ed.). Godey Company.
  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Granite Monthly Co. (1906). The Granite Monthly: A New Hampshire Magazine (Public domain ed.). Granite Monthly Co.
  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Lewis Publishing Company (1908). Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation (Public domain ed.). Lewis Publishing Company. p. 1570.
  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Metcalf, H. H. (1901). New Hampshire State Magazine (Public domain ed.). H. H. Metcalf.
  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: New Hampshire Publishing Company (1895). New Hampshire Women: A Collection of Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Daughters and Residents of the Granite State ... (Public domain ed.). New Hampshire Publishing Company.
  • Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Willard, Frances Elizabeth; Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice (1893). A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life (Public domain ed.). Moulton. ISBN 9780722217139.

External links

  • Works related to Woman of the Century/H. Maria George Colby at Wikisource
  • Works by or about H. Maria George Colby at Internet Archive
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