Sarah J. Hale: A Lady Editor Ahead of Her Time

A lady literary trailblazer changes the course of her family's life in this eloquent biography about a nineteenth-century woman making it on her own.

Sarah J. Hale was born to progressive parents in the 1800s. Through her college-educated brother's instruction, Hale became a teacher during a time when the profession was mostly comprised of men. When her husband died unexpectedly, she supported her five children by becoming one of the first lady editors for a women's magazine. Not only a woman pioneer in the editing field, Hale also stood for many causes, including campaigning to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. When Vassar College was established, Hale championed women instructors. She also formed an aid society for sailors, helping to supply inexpensive uniforms and housing.

From teacher to editor and published author, Hale never stopped pioneering a new career for women. Her nursery rhyme, "Mary Had a Little Lamb," remains a cherished and often-recited treasure.