Nora Archibald Smith
Encyclopedia
Nora Archibald Smith was an American children's author of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and sister of Kate Douglas Wiggin
. Nora and Kate co-authored and co-edited a series of children's books.
Both sisters were active in the kindergarten
movement that was developing at the turn of the twentieth century, and wrote repeatedly on the subject. They were admirers of Friedrich Fröbel and promoted his theories on early childhood education.
, known best for her novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
. Both girls were born in Philadelphia to Robert Noah Smith and Helen Elizabeth (Dyer) Smith. Their father died shortly after Nora’s birth and their mother then moved the family to Portland, Maine. She soon remarried and the family moved into Nora and Kate’s stepfather’s (Dr. Albion Bradbury) house in Hollis, Maine
. It was in the farmhouse called “Quillcote
” that both Nora and Kate grew up and to which they would later retire. In 1873, while Kate attended finishing school in Andover, Massachusetts, Dr. Bradbury moved the family to California. Kate opened the first free kindergarten west of the Rocky Mountains on Silver Street in San Francisco, California while Nora was teaching in the public schools of Tucson, Arizona. In 1880 they founded the California Kindergarten Training School together. Nora then went on to become the superintendent of the free kindergarten on Silver Street and later to take over the running of the California Kindergarten Training School in 1889. Ms. Smith was president of the California Froebel Society, an executive member of the committee of the International Kindergarten Association, and the vice-president (1891-1892) of the kindergarten department of the National Education Association (Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1899). Nora Archibald Smith collaborated with her sister to write or edit fifteen books. Nora, a writer in her own right, also published many serial stories and academic journal articles on early childhood education.
With Kate Douglas Wiggin
Kate Douglas Wiggin
Kate Douglas Wiggin was an American educator and author of children's stories, most notably the classic children's novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. She started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco in 1878...
. Nora and Kate co-authored and co-edited a series of children's books.
Both sisters were active in the kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
movement that was developing at the turn of the twentieth century, and wrote repeatedly on the subject. They were admirers of Friedrich Fröbel and promoted his theories on early childhood education.
A Partial Biography
Nora Archibald Smith (1859-1934) was the sister of Kate Douglas WigginKate Douglas Wiggin
Kate Douglas Wiggin was an American educator and author of children's stories, most notably the classic children's novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. She started the first free kindergarten in San Francisco in 1878...
, known best for her novel Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm is a classic American 1903 children's novel by Kate Douglas Wiggin that tells the story of Rebecca Rowena Randall and her two stern aunts in the village of Riverboro, Maine. Rebecca's joy for life inspires her aunts, but she faces many trials in her young life, gaining...
. Both girls were born in Philadelphia to Robert Noah Smith and Helen Elizabeth (Dyer) Smith. Their father died shortly after Nora’s birth and their mother then moved the family to Portland, Maine. She soon remarried and the family moved into Nora and Kate’s stepfather’s (Dr. Albion Bradbury) house in Hollis, Maine
Hollis, Maine
Hollis is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,281 at the 2010 census. Hollis is a rural bedroom community of Portland and is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area.-History:...
. It was in the farmhouse called “Quillcote
Kate Douglas Wiggin House
Kate Douglas Wiggin House or Quillcote is a historic house in Hollis, Maine, home of the writer Kate Douglas Wiggin.It was built in 1797 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.-References:...
” that both Nora and Kate grew up and to which they would later retire. In 1873, while Kate attended finishing school in Andover, Massachusetts, Dr. Bradbury moved the family to California. Kate opened the first free kindergarten west of the Rocky Mountains on Silver Street in San Francisco, California while Nora was teaching in the public schools of Tucson, Arizona. In 1880 they founded the California Kindergarten Training School together. Nora then went on to become the superintendent of the free kindergarten on Silver Street and later to take over the running of the California Kindergarten Training School in 1889. Ms. Smith was president of the California Froebel Society, an executive member of the committee of the International Kindergarten Association, and the vice-president (1891-1892) of the kindergarten department of the National Education Association (Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1899). Nora Archibald Smith collaborated with her sister to write or edit fifteen books. Nora, a writer in her own right, also published many serial stories and academic journal articles on early childhood education.
A Partial Bibliography
Solo Works- The Children of the Future (1898)
- Under the Cactus Flag (1899)
- The Message of Froebel and Other Essays (1900)
- Three Little Marys (1902)
- Adventures of a Doll (1907)
- Old, Old Tales from the Old, Old Book (1916)
- Plays, Pantomimes, and Tableaux for Children (1917)
- The Christmas Child (1920)
- Boys and Girls of Bookland (1923)
- Kate Douglas Wiggin as Her Sister Knew Her (1925)
- A Truly Little Girl (1927)
- Bee of the Cactus Country (1932)
With Kate Douglas Wiggin
- The Posy Ring (1903)
- Magic Casements: A Second Fairy Book (1907)
- Pinafore Palace (1907)
- Tales of Laughter: A Third Fairy Book (1908)
- The Arabian Nights (1909)
- Tales of Wonder: A Fourth Fairy Book (1909)
- The Fairy Ring (1910)
- The Talking Beasts (1911)
- An Hour with the Fairies (1912)
- Twilight Stories (1925)
- Tales of Laughter (1926)
- Golden Numbers (1929)