Helen Hoyt
Encyclopedia
Helen Lyman commonly known as Helen Hoyt or Helen Hoyt Lyman (January 22, 1887–August 2, 1972)
was an American
poet
.
on January 22, 1887. Her father was Henry M. Hoyt
, Governor
of Pennsylvania
from 1879 to 1893. Her niece was the 1920s poet Elinor Wylie
,
Helen Hoyt was educated at Barnard College
.
At some point she married William Whittingham Lyman Jr
, and so also became known either as Mrs. W.W. Lyman or Helen Hoyt Lyman.
, and also had numerous articles and poems published within the magazine from 1913 to 1936. She also edited the September 1916 edition of Others: A Magazine of the New Verse
, the woman's number. Other magazines to publish her work include The Egoist
and The Masses
.
Aside from her own collections, her work was also published in notable anthologies of her times, including The New Poetry: An Anthology (1917), The Second Book of Modern Verse (1920) , Silver Pennies: Modern Poems for Boys and Girls (1925), May Days (1926), and The Best Poems of 1931.
Her poems include Ellis Park, Memory, Lamp Posts and Rain At Night.
In 1932, she wrote the foreword to California Poets: An Anthology of 244 Contemporaries,
[House of Henry Harrison, editors].
She was a contemporary of Marianne Moore
and Mina Loy
, among others.
She was known to entertain correspondence with Idella Purnell Stone
and Clark Ashton Smith
.
in 1916
was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Life and work
She was born as Helen Hoyt in Norwalk, ConnecticutNorwalk, Connecticut
Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of the city is 85,603, making Norwalk sixth in population in Connecticut, and third in Fairfield County...
on January 22, 1887. Her father was Henry M. Hoyt
Henry M. Hoyt
Henry Martyn Hoyt, Sr. was the 18th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1879 to 1883, as well as a general in the Union army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
, Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from 1879 to 1893. Her niece was the 1920s poet Elinor Wylie
Elinor Wylie
Elinor Morton Wylie was an American poet and novelist popular in the 1920s and 1930s. "She was famous during her life almost as much for her ethereal beauty and personality as for her melodious, sensuous poetry."...
,
Helen Hoyt was educated at Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
.
At some point she married William Whittingham Lyman Jr
William Whittingham Lyman Jr
William Whittingham Lyman Jr, also known as Jack Lyman, was an American writer and academic, primarily in the field of Celtic studies.-Life and work:...
, and so also became known either as Mrs. W.W. Lyman or Helen Hoyt Lyman.
Career
Early in her career Helen Hoyt was an Associate Editor of the journal PoetryPoetry (magazine)
Poetry , published in Chicago, Illinois since 1912, is one of the leading monthly poetry journals in the English-speaking world. Published by the Poetry Foundation and currently edited by Christian Wiman, the magazine has a circulation of 30,000 and prints 300 poems per year out of approximately...
, and also had numerous articles and poems published within the magazine from 1913 to 1936. She also edited the September 1916 edition of Others: A Magazine of the New Verse
Others: A Magazine of the New Verse
Others: A Magazine of the New Verse was founded by Alfred Kreymborg in July, 1915 with financing from Walter Conrad Arensberg. The magazine ran until July, 1919. It published poetry and other writing, as well as visual art. While the magazine never had more than 300 subscribers, it helped launch...
, the woman's number. Other magazines to publish her work include The Egoist
The Egoist (periodical)
The Egoist was a London literary magazine published from 1914 to 1919, during which time it published important early modernist poetry and fiction. In its manifesto, it claimed to "recognise no taboos," and published a number of controversial works, such as parts of Ulysses...
and The Masses
The Masses
The Masses was a graphically innovative magazine of socialist politics published monthly in the U.S. from 1911 until 1917, when Federal prosecutors brought charges against its editors for conspiring to obstruct conscription. It was succeeded by The Liberator and then later The New Masses...
.
Aside from her own collections, her work was also published in notable anthologies of her times, including The New Poetry: An Anthology (1917), The Second Book of Modern Verse (1920) , Silver Pennies: Modern Poems for Boys and Girls (1925), May Days (1926), and The Best Poems of 1931.
Her poems include Ellis Park, Memory, Lamp Posts and Rain At Night.
In 1932, she wrote the foreword to California Poets: An Anthology of 244 Contemporaries,
[House of Henry Harrison, editors].
She was a contemporary of Marianne Moore
Marianne Moore
Marianne Moore was an American Modernist poet and writer noted for her irony and wit.- Life :Moore was born in Kirkwood, Missouri, in the manse of the Presbyterian church where her maternal grandfather, John Riddle Warner, served as pastor. She was the daughter of mechanical engineer and inventor...
and Mina Loy
Mina Loy
Mina Loy born Mina Gertrude Löwry was an artist, poet, playwright, novelist, Futurist, actress, Christian Scientist, designer of lamps, and bohemian. She was one of the last of the first generation modernists to achieve posthumous recognition. Her poetry was admired by T. S...
, among others.
She was known to entertain correspondence with Idella Purnell Stone
Idella Purnell
Idella Purnell was an academic, librarian, teacher, and children's book author.-Biography:...
and Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith was a self-educated American poet, sculptor, painter and author of fantasy, horror and science fiction short stories. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne...
.
Quotation
"At present most of what we know, or think we know, of women has been found out by men,Others: A Magazine of the New Verse
we have yet to hear what woman will tell of herself, and where can she tell more intimately than in poetry?"
Others: A Magazine of the New Verse
Others: A Magazine of the New Verse was founded by Alfred Kreymborg in July, 1915 with financing from Walter Conrad Arensberg. The magazine ran until July, 1919. It published poetry and other writing, as well as visual art. While the magazine never had more than 300 subscribers, it helped launch...
in 1916