Adeline Dutton Train Whitney

Adeline Train Whitney

Adeline Dutton Train Whitney (September 15, 1824 – March 20, 1906)[1] was an American poet and prolific writer who published more than 20 books for girls. Her books expressed a traditional view of women's roles and were popular throughout her life.

Biography

Whitney was born Adeline Dutton Train in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Enoch Train and Adeline Train (née Dutton). Her father founded a line of packet ships that sailed between Boston and Liverpool, a major port of trade and emigration.

Adeline was educated at private schools; she studied at the school of George B. Emerson in Boston from 1837 to 1842. Her cousin George Francis Train was a successful entrepreneur, a founder of the Union Pacific Railroad, and an adventurer, making three round-the-world trips.

Marriage and family

On November 7, 1843, Adeline at the age of 19 married Seth Dunbar Whitney, a wealthy merchant who was twenty years older than she. They lived in Milton, where they raised their family.

Adeline Whitney started writing seriously in her thirties, after her children started school. She first published poems and stories in local journals. In 1859, she published her first book, Mother Goose for Grown Folks. She wrote mainly for young girls and supported conservative values. She promoted the message of the era that a woman's happiest place is in the home, the source of all goodness. As this was popular among parents, her books sold extremely well throughout her life.

Whitney privately opposed women's suffrage, and took no part in public life (in accordance with the traditional approach for women expressed in her books.) She patented a set of alphabet blocks for children.

She died in Milton at the age of 81.

Bibliography

Daffodils, 1887

References

  1. ↑  "Whitney, Adeline Dutton (Train)". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
  2. ↑  Gilman, D. C.; Thurston, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Whitney, Adeline Dutton (Train)". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.

External links

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