Margaret Sidney
Encyclopedia
Margaret Sidney was the pseudonym
of American author Harriett Mulford Stone Lothrop (June 22, 1844–August 2, 1924). In addition to writing popular children's stories, she ran her husband Daniel Lothrop
's publishing company after his death. After they bought The Wayside
country house together, they worked hard to make it a center of literary life.
, Connecticut
, in 1844. She was educated at seminaries near her home, traveled extensively in the United States, and began creating literary compositions early in life.
She published nothing until 1878, at the age of 34, when she began sending short stories
to Wide Awake
, a children's magazine in Boston
. Two of her stories, “Polly Pepper's Chicken Pie” and “Phronsie Pepper's New Shoes,” proved to be very popular with readers. Daniel Lothrop
, the editor of the magazine, requested that Stone write more.
The success of Harriett's short stories prompted her to write the now-famous “Five Little Peppers
” series. This series was first published in 1881, the year that Stone married Daniel Lothrop. Daniel had founded the D. Lothrop Company of Boston, who published Harriett's books under her pseudonym, Margaret Sidney.
Harriett and Daniel may have both had an interest in history and in famous authors. In 1883, they purchased the house in which both Louisa May Alcott
and Nathaniel Hawthorne
had lived. Nicknamed The Wayside
, the house is located in Concord
, Massachusetts
. The year after Harriett and Daniel moved into the house, Harriett gave birth to their daughter, Margaret, at the age of 40.
Daniel Lothrop died on Friday, March 18, 1892, when Harriett was 48 and their daughter was just 9 years old. There was a gap in the release of the “Five Little Peppers” books from 1892 to 1897, while Harriett continued to run the publishing company Daniel founded. Eventually, she sold the company, which later became Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. It continued to publish Harriett's books under the name Margaret Sidney when Harriett resumed writing the “Five Little Peppers” series.
She died at the age of 80.
Her archival material is housed at the University of Florida
's George A. Smathers Libraries.
. In 1895, Harriett formed a children's group of a similar vein called Children of the American Revolution. This group is still around today, and was organized “for the training of young people in true patriotism and love of country.”
She loved travelling overseas, but spent many winters in California where the climate was more agreeable.
Alongside her writing career, Stone had a deep interest in historical homes and buildings and worked hard to preserve them. These include:
In later years, Stone's daughter Margaret Lothrop championed to have her childhood home, The Wayside, declared a National Historic Landmark
. It was made so in 1963.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of American author Harriett Mulford Stone Lothrop (June 22, 1844–August 2, 1924). In addition to writing popular children's stories, she ran her husband Daniel Lothrop
Daniel Lothrop
Daniel Lothrop was an American publisher.-Biography:Daniel Lothrop was horn in Rochester, Strafford County, New Hampshire, August 11, 1831, son of Daniel and Sophia Lothrop, the youngest of three brothers...
's publishing company after his death. After they bought The Wayside
The Wayside
The Wayside is a historic house in Concord, Massachusetts. The earliest part of the home may date to 1717. Later, it successively became the home of the young Louisa May Alcott and her family, author Nathaniel Hawthorne and his family, and children's literature writer Margaret Sidney...
country house together, they worked hard to make it a center of literary life.
Biography
Harriett Mulford Stone was born in New HavenNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, in 1844. She was educated at seminaries near her home, traveled extensively in the United States, and began creating literary compositions early in life.
She published nothing until 1878, at the age of 34, when she began sending short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
to Wide Awake
Wide Awake
Wide Awake is a 1998 comedy-drama film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan and produced by Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Cary Woods and Cathy Konrad. The film stars Joseph Cross, Timothy Reifsnyder, Dana Delaney, Denis Leary, Robert Loggia and Rosie O'Donnell...
, a children's magazine in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. Two of her stories, “Polly Pepper's Chicken Pie” and “Phronsie Pepper's New Shoes,” proved to be very popular with readers. Daniel Lothrop
Daniel Lothrop
Daniel Lothrop was an American publisher.-Biography:Daniel Lothrop was horn in Rochester, Strafford County, New Hampshire, August 11, 1831, son of Daniel and Sophia Lothrop, the youngest of three brothers...
, the editor of the magazine, requested that Stone write more.
The success of Harriett's short stories prompted her to write the now-famous “Five Little Peppers
Five Little Peppers
The Five Little Peppers book series was created by Margaret Sidney from 1881 to 1916. It covers the lives of the five children of Mamsie and the late Mister Pepper who are born into poverty in a rural "little brown house." The series begins with the Peppers in their native state and develops with...
” series. This series was first published in 1881, the year that Stone married Daniel Lothrop. Daniel had founded the D. Lothrop Company of Boston, who published Harriett's books under her pseudonym, Margaret Sidney.
Harriett and Daniel may have both had an interest in history and in famous authors. In 1883, they purchased the house in which both Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women and its sequels Little Men and Jo's Boys. Little Women was set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, and published in 1868...
and Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer.Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem Witch Trials...
had lived. Nicknamed The Wayside
The Wayside
The Wayside is a historic house in Concord, Massachusetts. The earliest part of the home may date to 1717. Later, it successively became the home of the young Louisa May Alcott and her family, author Nathaniel Hawthorne and his family, and children's literature writer Margaret Sidney...
, the house is located in Concord
Concord, Massachusetts
Concord is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 17,668. Although a small town, Concord is noted for its leading roles in American history and literature.-History:...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The year after Harriett and Daniel moved into the house, Harriett gave birth to their daughter, Margaret, at the age of 40.
Daniel Lothrop died on Friday, March 18, 1892, when Harriett was 48 and their daughter was just 9 years old. There was a gap in the release of the “Five Little Peppers” books from 1892 to 1897, while Harriett continued to run the publishing company Daniel founded. Eventually, she sold the company, which later became Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co. It continued to publish Harriett's books under the name Margaret Sidney when Harriett resumed writing the “Five Little Peppers” series.
She died at the age of 80.
Works
Harriett eventually wrote over 30 books. Besides the “Five Little Peppers” series, these included:- So as by Fire (Boston, 1881)
- Half Year at Bronckton (1882)
- The Pettibone Name (1883), a novel of New EnglandNew EnglandNew England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
life - What the Seven Did (1883)
- Who told it to Me (1884)
- Ballad of the Lost Hare (1884)
- The Golden West (1885)
- How they Went to Europe (1885)
- Hester, and other New England Stories (1886)
- The Minute-Man (1886)
- Two Modern Little Princes (1887)
- Dilly and the Captain (1887)
- A Little Maid of Concord Town, on a patrioticPatriotismPatriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
theme - A Little Maid of Boston, also on a patrioticPatriotismPatriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
theme
Her archival material is housed at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
's George A. Smathers Libraries.
Other interests
Harriett was involved with Daughters of the American RevolutionDaughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
. In 1895, Harriett formed a children's group of a similar vein called Children of the American Revolution. This group is still around today, and was organized “for the training of young people in true patriotism and love of country.”
She loved travelling overseas, but spent many winters in California where the climate was more agreeable.
Alongside her writing career, Stone had a deep interest in historical homes and buildings and worked hard to preserve them. These include:
- The Wayside, where she lived with her family
- Orchard HouseOrchard HouseOrchard House is an historic house museum in Concord, Massachusetts. It was the longtime home of Amos Bronson Alcott and family, including his daughter Louisa May Alcott who wrote and set her beloved novel Little Women there.-History:...
, which belonged to the Alcott family and was next door to the Wayside - Grapevine Cottage, where the Concord grapeConcord grapeConcord grapes are a cultivar derived from the grape species Vitis labrusca which are used as table grapes, wine grapes and juice grapes....
was first produced - The Tolman House in Dorchester, MassachusettsDorchester, MassachusettsDorchester is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated and is today endearingly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents. Dorchester, including a large...
built during the colonial period
In later years, Stone's daughter Margaret Lothrop championed to have her childhood home, The Wayside, declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
. It was made so in 1963.