Agnes Hewes
Encyclopedia
Agnes Danforth Hewes was an American writer of children's literature
and a 3-time winner of the Newbery Honor
. Her early childhood overseas had a huge influence on her life and writing.
(then part of Syria
), to medical missionary
parents working for the American Presbytery Board of Missions, Galen Bancroft Danforth and Emily Reynolds Calhoun Danforth. Galen had graduated from Amherst College
in 1867 and then studied medicine in Germany and Edinburgh, eventually following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a medical doctor, receiving his medical degree from the University of New York
in 1871. He began his mission work in 1871 and married Emily in Abeih, on Mount Lebanon
, Lebanon], on 25 December 1871.
Hewes's father died of a fever and pneumonia
on July 9, 1875—shortly after she was born—in Lebanon, and her mother died on January 12, 1881. Hewes was left in the care of a nurse and household servants. She stayed in the family home in Abeih with her maternal grandmother, Emily Pitkin Reynolds Calhoun, until she was 12 years old; she grew up speaking Arabic
. Hewes's maternal grandfather was another missionary, Dr. (Rev.) Simeon Howard Calhoun. Calhoun died in Buffalo, New York
, on December 13, 1876. Thus when Emily Pitkin Calhoun returned to Lebanon to care for her daughter and granddaughter, Hewes could not answer in English. Rev. Simeon and Emily Calhoun's other daughter, Susan Howard Calhoun (Hewes' aunt) married Rev. Charles Newton Ransom and they were also missionaries in Lebanon. These formative years in Lebanon greatly inspired Hewes's lifelong love of foreign lands and cultures:
Hewes apparently graduated from Elmira College
, in Elmira, New York
. In 1901 she married Laurence Ilsley Hewes. They had several children between 1902–1916, including Mary, who wrote a book about her mother in 1967. Hewes wrote her first of many youth books in 1923, several of which dealt with culture clashes and early international trade. Following in her family tradition, Hewes became a minister at some point prior to November 1928, which was unusual for women in Protestantism at that time. She eventually settled in San Francisco, California
, and died there on 30 September 1963.
NOTE: NH indicates year of Newbery Honor award
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
and a 3-time winner of the Newbery Honor
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
. Her early childhood overseas had a huge influence on her life and writing.
Biography
Hewes was born in Tripoli, LebanonTripoli, Lebanon
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in Lebanon. Situated 85 km north of the capital Beirut, Tripoli is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Geographically located on the east of the Mediterranean, the city's history dates back...
(then part of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
), to medical missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
parents working for the American Presbytery Board of Missions, Galen Bancroft Danforth and Emily Reynolds Calhoun Danforth. Galen had graduated from Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1867 and then studied medicine in Germany and Edinburgh, eventually following in the footsteps of his father, who was also a medical doctor, receiving his medical degree from the University of New York
University of New York
University of New York may refer to:*University of New York in Prague, Czech Republic*University of New York Tirana, Albania* University of New York, fictional university on the American television series Felicity , modelled on New York University-See also:*There is no institution of higher...
in 1871. He began his mission work in 1871 and married Emily in Abeih, on Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon
Mount Lebanon , as a geographic designation, is a Lebanese mountain range, averaging above 2,200 meters in height and receiving a substantial amount of precipitation, including snow, which averages around four meters deep. It extends across the whole country along about , parallel to the...
, Lebanon], on 25 December 1871.
Hewes's father died of a fever and pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on July 9, 1875—shortly after she was born—in Lebanon, and her mother died on January 12, 1881. Hewes was left in the care of a nurse and household servants. She stayed in the family home in Abeih with her maternal grandmother, Emily Pitkin Reynolds Calhoun, until she was 12 years old; she grew up speaking Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
. Hewes's maternal grandfather was another missionary, Dr. (Rev.) Simeon Howard Calhoun. Calhoun died in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, on December 13, 1876. Thus when Emily Pitkin Calhoun returned to Lebanon to care for her daughter and granddaughter, Hewes could not answer in English. Rev. Simeon and Emily Calhoun's other daughter, Susan Howard Calhoun (Hewes' aunt) married Rev. Charles Newton Ransom and they were also missionaries in Lebanon. These formative years in Lebanon greatly inspired Hewes's lifelong love of foreign lands and cultures:
My fairy godmother's priceless gift to me was to let me live my first twelve years in Syria. That, in a nutshell, is my feeling about Syria! That is why I wrote my first book, because I loved Syria so much--its magnificent brilliant scenery, its dear warm-hearted people, its customs come down from the Bible times, its beautiful dignified speech, its rich historical background--that I wanted American children to love it, to see it with my eyes. I felt as if no one could afford to miss knowing my Syria. I feel so still.
Hewes apparently graduated from Elmira College
Elmira College
Elmira College is a coeducational private liberal arts college located in Elmira, in New York State's Southern Tier region.The college is noted as the oldest college still in existence which granted degrees to women that were the equivalent of those given to men...
, in Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
. In 1901 she married Laurence Ilsley Hewes. They had several children between 1902–1916, including Mary, who wrote a book about her mother in 1967. Hewes wrote her first of many youth books in 1923, several of which dealt with culture clashes and early international trade. Following in her family tradition, Hewes became a minister at some point prior to November 1928, which was unusual for women in Protestantism at that time. She eventually settled in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, and died there on 30 September 1963.
Selected works
- A Boy of the Lost Crusade (1923)
- Swords on the Sea (1928)
- Spice and the Devil's CaveSpice and the Devil's CaveSpice and the Devil's Cave is a book by Agnes Hewes that was published in 1930. This piece of historical fiction is a retroactive winner of the Newbery Honor award....
(1930) (NH 1931) - Glory of the SeasGlory of the SeasGlory of the Seas is a children's historical novel by Agnes Hewes. It is set in Boston, Massachusetts, during the 1850s. The novel, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth, was first published in 1933 and was a Newbery Honor recipient in 1934....
(1933) (NH 1934) - The Codfish MusketThe Codfish MusketThe Codfish Musket is a children's historical novel by Agnes Hewes. Set in the early nineteenth century, the action ranges from Boston and Washington to the western frontier in a tale of gun theft and trading. The novel, illustrated by Armstrong Sperry was first published in 1936 and was a Newbery...
(1936) (NH 1937) - The Sword of Roland Arnot (1939)
- Jackhammer; Drill Runners of the Mountain Highways (1942)
- Two Oceans to Canton, the Story of the Old China Trade (1944)
- Spice Ho! A Story of Discovery (1947)
- A Hundred Bridges To Go (1950)
NOTE: NH indicates year of Newbery Honor award
See also
- Caldecott MedalCaldecott MedalThe Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
- Ordination of womenOrdination of womenOrdination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
- Ordination of women in Protestant churchesOrdination of women in Protestant churchesThe ordination of women in Protestant churches has often been carried out in light of the theological doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, which might include women if the expression is taken in a very literal sense.-Elders, pastors and ministers:...