Maud Hart Lovelace
Encyclopedia
Maud Hart Lovelace was an American
author best known for the Betsy-Tacy
series.
to Tom Hart, a shoe store owner, and his wife, Stella (née Palmer). Maud was the middle child; her sisters were Kathleen (Julia in the Betsy-Tacy books) and Helen (book character, Margaret). Maud reportedly started writing as soon as she could hold a pencil. She wrote in her high school's essay contest during her junior and senior years. She was baptized in a Baptist
church, but joined the Episcopal
church as a teenager. She went on to the University of Minnesota
but took a leave of absence to go to California
to recover from an appendectomy at her maternal grandmother's home. It was while in California that she made her first short story sale – to the Los Angeles Times Magazine
. She returned to the university and worked for the Minnesota Daily
. She did not graduate from college.
While spending a year in Europe in 1914, she met Paolo Conte, an Italian musician (who later inspired the character Marco in Betsy and the Great World). She married Delos Lovelace when she was twenty-five years old. Delos and Maud met in April 1917 and were married on Thanksgiving Day the same year. They lived apart until 1919, however, due to Delos' military service in the First World War
.
They divided their time between Minneapolis and New York
(including Yonkers
and Mount Vernon
) for several years. After 1928, they lived in New York permanently until their retirement in Claremont, California
. They had one daughter, Merian (later Mrs. Kirchner; January 18, 1931—September 25, 1997), who was named for Delos's friend, Merian C. Cooper. (Delos had written the novelization of the film King Kong, directed by Cooper.)
set in Minnesota. She wrote several more historical novels, including the successful Early Candlelight in 1929.
She is best known for her books for children. The Betsy-Tacy
series started in 1938 after Lovelace told stories about her childhood to her own daughter Merian. The first book in the series, Betsy-Tacy
, was published in 1940, and the last book, Betsy's Wedding
, was published in 1955. The first four books increase in reading difficulty so that the child can grow up along with Betsy-Tacy. The Betsy-Tacy books take place mostly in the fictional town of Deep Valley, Minnesota, which is based on Mankato. There are also three loosely connected books set in Deep Valley: Winona's Pony Cart Emily of Deep Valley and Carney's House Party, in which Betsy and Tacy have minor roles. The series has been enduringly popular. The city of Mankato declared Betsy-Tacy Day on October 7, 1961.
Short Stories
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author best known for the Betsy-Tacy
Betsy-Tacy
The Betsy-Tacy series is a collection of books written by Maud Hart Lovelace between 1940 and 1955. The books are written at progressively more difficult reading levels as the characters age. They follow the adventures of Betsy Ray and her friends and family from the time that Betsy turns five...
series.
Early life
Maud Palmer Hart was born in Mankato, MinnesotaMankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
to Tom Hart, a shoe store owner, and his wife, Stella (née Palmer). Maud was the middle child; her sisters were Kathleen (Julia in the Betsy-Tacy books) and Helen (book character, Margaret). Maud reportedly started writing as soon as she could hold a pencil. She wrote in her high school's essay contest during her junior and senior years. She was baptized in a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church, but joined the Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
church as a teenager. She went on to the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
but took a leave of absence to go to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to recover from an appendectomy at her maternal grandmother's home. It was while in California that she made her first short story sale – to the Los Angeles Times Magazine
Los Angeles Times Magazine
The Los Angeles Times Magazine is a monthly magazine which supplements the Sunday edition of the Los Angeles Times newspaper on the first Sunday of the month...
. She returned to the university and worked for the Minnesota Daily
Minnesota Daily
The Minnesota Daily is the campus newspaper of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, published Monday-Thursday while school is in session, and published weekly on Wednesdays during summer sessions. Published since 1900, the paper is one of the largest student-run and student-written newspapers...
. She did not graduate from college.
While spending a year in Europe in 1914, she met Paolo Conte, an Italian musician (who later inspired the character Marco in Betsy and the Great World). She married Delos Lovelace when she was twenty-five years old. Delos and Maud met in April 1917 and were married on Thanksgiving Day the same year. They lived apart until 1919, however, due to Delos' military service in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
They divided their time between Minneapolis and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
(including Yonkers
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
and Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
) for several years. After 1928, they lived in New York permanently until their retirement in Claremont, California
Claremont, California
Claremont is a small affluent college town in eastern Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. The population as of the 2010 census is 34,926. Claremont is known for its seven higher-education institutions, its...
. They had one daughter, Merian (later Mrs. Kirchner; January 18, 1931—September 25, 1997), who was named for Delos's friend, Merian C. Cooper. (Delos had written the novelization of the film King Kong, directed by Cooper.)
Literary career
Her first book was The Black Angels, which was published in 1926 and is a historical novelHistorical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
set in Minnesota. She wrote several more historical novels, including the successful Early Candlelight in 1929.
She is best known for her books for children. The Betsy-Tacy
Betsy-Tacy
The Betsy-Tacy series is a collection of books written by Maud Hart Lovelace between 1940 and 1955. The books are written at progressively more difficult reading levels as the characters age. They follow the adventures of Betsy Ray and her friends and family from the time that Betsy turns five...
series started in 1938 after Lovelace told stories about her childhood to her own daughter Merian. The first book in the series, Betsy-Tacy
Betsy-Tacy (book)
Betsy-Tacy is the first volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.The book is mostly about the adventures of five-year-old Betsy Ray and her new best friend, Tacy Kelly. It takes place in the fictional Deep Valley, Minnesota- based on Mankato, Minnesota, the author's home town. This...
, was published in 1940, and the last book, Betsy's Wedding
Betsy's Wedding (book)
Betsy's Wedding is the tenth and final book in the Betsy-Tacy series written by Maud Hart Lovelace. Set in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the book tells the story of the early married life of the main character, Betsy Ray, and her high-school sweetheart...
, was published in 1955. The first four books increase in reading difficulty so that the child can grow up along with Betsy-Tacy. The Betsy-Tacy books take place mostly in the fictional town of Deep Valley, Minnesota, which is based on Mankato. There are also three loosely connected books set in Deep Valley: Winona's Pony Cart Emily of Deep Valley and Carney's House Party, in which Betsy and Tacy have minor roles. The series has been enduringly popular. The city of Mankato declared Betsy-Tacy Day on October 7, 1961.
Death
Lovelace spent her later years in California, where she died in 1980. She is buried in the Glenwood Cemetery in Mankato, with a monument dedicated to her.Legacy
The Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award was established in 1980. Each year, a group of nominees are chosen in two categories: grades 3–5 and grades 6–8. Children who have read at least three books in the relevant category cast a vote for their favorite. Details about her life and work can be found in The Betsy-Tacy Companion by Sharla Whalen.Betsy-Tacy series
- Betsy-TacyBetsy-Tacy (book)Betsy-Tacy is the first volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.The book is mostly about the adventures of five-year-old Betsy Ray and her new best friend, Tacy Kelly. It takes place in the fictional Deep Valley, Minnesota- based on Mankato, Minnesota, the author's home town. This...
(1940) - Betsy-Tacy and TibBetsy-Tacy and TibBetsy-Tacy and Tib is the second volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. This story introduces the character of Thelma Muller, a German-American girl who becomes friends with Betsy Ray and Tacy Kelly....
(1941) - Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big HillBetsy and Tacy Go Over the Big HillBetsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill is the third volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.-Plot overview:While the first two volumes are something like collections of vignettes about Betsy, Tacy, and Tib, this one has a story through the whole volume. The girls are competing with...
(1942) - Betsy and Tacy Go DowntownBetsy and Tacy Go DowntownBetsy and Tacy Go Downtown is the fourth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.-Plot:In this volume in the series, horseless carriages arrive in Deep Valley for the first time when Mr. Poppy, the owner of the Opera House, buys an automobile...
(1943) - Heaven to BetsyHeaven to BetsyHeaven to Betsy is the fifth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The events of the novel span Betsy and Tacy's freshman, or ninth-grade, year of school. A major character is added to the series' cast when Betsy meets Joe Willard, an orphan working for his aunt and uncle in their...
(1945) - Betsy in Spite of HerselfBetsy in Spite of HerselfBetsy in Spite of Herself is the sixth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The story covers Betsy and Tacy's sophomore, or tenth grade, year in high school and re-introduces the character of Tib Muller, now living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.During a visit to Tib's family in...
(1946) - Betsy Was a JuniorBetsy Was a JuniorBetsy Was a Junior is the seventh volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The story spans the title character's junior, or eleventh grade, year in high school....
(1947) - Betsy and JoeBetsy and JoeBetsy and Joe is the eighth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. This installment spans the title characters' senior, or twelfth grade, year in high school.- Plot summary :...
(1948) - Betsy and the Great WorldBetsy and the Great WorldBetsy and the Great World is the ninth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series of children's fiction by Maud Hart Lovelace. The novel is set in 1914 and focuses on the newly adult Betsy Ray's adventures while spending a year traveling through Europe in place of attending college. The novel is based on...
(1952) - Betsy's WeddingBetsy's Wedding (book)Betsy's Wedding is the tenth and final book in the Betsy-Tacy series written by Maud Hart Lovelace. Set in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the book tells the story of the early married life of the main character, Betsy Ray, and her high-school sweetheart...
(1955)
Deep Valley series
- Carney's House Party (1949)
- Emily of Deep Valley (1950)
- Winona's Pony Cart (1953)
Short Stories
- Auction (with Delos W. LovelaceDelos W. LovelaceDelos Wheeler Lovelace was the author of the original novelisation of the film King Kong .That novel was published in serialized form in Mystery Magazine in 1932 and in book form later that year by Grosset & Dunlap, slightly before the film was released...
), (ss) The Country Gentleman Aug 2 1924 - Borghild’s Clothes (with Delos W. LovelaceDelos W. LovelaceDelos Wheeler Lovelace was the author of the original novelisation of the film King Kong .That novel was published in serialized form in Mystery Magazine in 1932 and in book form later that year by Grosset & Dunlap, slightly before the film was released...
), (ss) The Modern Priscilla Apr 1922 - Carcassonne Flyer, (ss) Sunset Magazine Apr 1925
- Carmelita, Widow (with Delos W. LovelaceDelos W. LovelaceDelos Wheeler Lovelace was the author of the original novelisation of the film King Kong .That novel was published in serialized form in Mystery Magazine in 1932 and in book form later that year by Grosset & Dunlap, slightly before the film was released...
), (ss) Catholic WorldCatholic WorldCatholic World was a periodical founded by Paulist Father Isaac Thomas Hecker in April 1865. It featured many articles by Orestes Brownson, including the May 1870 essay "Church and State", which described Brownson's understanding of the proper relationship between the Church and the state.-...
Oct 1924 - East Wind (with Delos W. LovelaceDelos W. LovelaceDelos Wheeler Lovelace was the author of the original novelisation of the film King Kong .That novel was published in serialized form in Mystery Magazine in 1932 and in book form later that year by Grosset & Dunlap, slightly before the film was released...
), (ss) The Country Gentleman Apr 26 1924 - Land (with Delos W. LovelaceDelos W. LovelaceDelos Wheeler Lovelace was the author of the original novelisation of the film King Kong .That novel was published in serialized form in Mystery Magazine in 1932 and in book form later that year by Grosset & Dunlap, slightly before the film was released...
), (ss) LibertyLibertyLiberty is a moral and political principle, or Right, that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions...
Aug 9 1924 - Laughing Tyrant (with Delos W. LovelaceDelos W. LovelaceDelos Wheeler Lovelace was the author of the original novelisation of the film King Kong .That novel was published in serialized form in Mystery Magazine in 1932 and in book form later that year by Grosset & Dunlap, slightly before the film was released...
), (ss) The Country Gentleman Mar 29 1924 - Little White Lamb,The, (ss) The DelineatorThe DelineatorThe Delineator was an American women's magazine of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, founded by the Butterick Publishing Company in 1869 under the name The Metropolitan Monthly. Its name was changed in 1875. In November 1926, under the editorship of Mrs...
Jun 1924 - Love’s Daily Dozen, (ss) The DelineatorThe DelineatorThe Delineator was an American women's magazine of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, founded by the Butterick Publishing Company in 1869 under the name The Metropolitan Monthly. Its name was changed in 1875. In November 1926, under the editorship of Mrs...
Aug 1925 - Maid and the Hope Chest, The, (ss) (with Delos W. LovelaceDelos W. LovelaceDelos Wheeler Lovelace was the author of the original novelisation of the film King Kong .That novel was published in serialized form in Mystery Magazine in 1932 and in book form later that year by Grosset & Dunlap, slightly before the film was released...
) Metropolitan MagazineMetropolitan Magazine (New York)Metropolitan Magazine, known in its later years as Macfadden's Fiction Lover's Magazine, was a monthly periodical in the early 20th century with articles on politics and literature.-History:...
May 1924 - Neighbors (with Delos W. LovelaceDelos W. LovelaceDelos Wheeler Lovelace was the author of the original novelisation of the film King Kong .That novel was published in serialized form in Mystery Magazine in 1932 and in book form later that year by Grosset & Dunlap, slightly before the film was released...
), (ss) The Country Gentleman Sep 27 1924 - One Day to Live (with Delos W. LovelaceDelos W. LovelaceDelos Wheeler Lovelace was the author of the original novelisation of the film King Kong .That novel was published in serialized form in Mystery Magazine in 1932 and in book form later that year by Grosset & Dunlap, slightly before the film was released...
), (ss) The DelineatorThe DelineatorThe Delineator was an American women's magazine of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, founded by the Butterick Publishing Company in 1869 under the name The Metropolitan Monthly. Its name was changed in 1875. In November 1926, under the editorship of Mrs...
Oct 1925
External links
- The Betsy-Tacy Society
- Maud Hart Lovelace's Deep Valley
- Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, from Minnesota Youth Reading Awards
- Maud Hart Lovelace page at Minnesota State University
- Maud Hart Lovelace at Minnesota Author Biographies Project
- Maud Hart Lovelace History Player in the Classroom, from the Minnesota Historical Society