Harriet Beecher Stowe: Harriet Beecher Stowe: Biography of a Literary Biography of a Literary

GiantGiant

By Sylvia MarohnBy Sylvia Marohn

For American Literature,For American Literature,

Professor B. Ritter-GuthProfessor B. Ritter-Guth

Birth and Early LifeBirth and Early Life

Harriet was born in 1811, in Litchfield, ConnecticutHarriet was born in 1811, in Litchfield, Connecticut

Mother was Roxanna (Foote) BeecherMother was Roxanna (Foote) Beecher

Father was Lyman Beecher, a Calvinist preacherFather was Lyman Beecher, a Calvinist preacher

Harriet was number seven, of eight childrenHarriet was number seven, of eight children

Harriet’s Birthplace

Harriet’s mother died when she was four Harriet’s mother died when she was four years oldyears old

Harriet was sent to live with her auntHarriet was sent to live with her aunt

When she was 13, Harriet moved to When she was 13, Harriet moved to Hartford, Connecticut to attend the Female Hartford, Connecticut to attend the Female Seminary that was run by her eldest sister Seminary that was run by her eldest sister Catherine.Catherine.

Harriet with her father

Father, Lyman

Sister, Catherine

At 14 Harriet had a spiritual awakening At 14 Harriet had a spiritual awakening and became a devout Christianand became a devout Christian

The family moved to Boston for a year, The family moved to Boston for a year, and then to Cincinnati, Ohio, where her and then to Cincinnati, Ohio, where her father was appointed President of Lane father was appointed President of Lane Theological Seminary. Theological Seminary.

Their home on Gilbert Ave. in Cincinnati is Their home on Gilbert Ave. in Cincinnati is now a National Historical Museum. now a National Historical Museum.

Stowe National Historic Museum

A Budding WriterA Budding WriterWhen she was 23, Harriet won a writing When she was 23, Harriet won a writing contest in contest in Western Monthly MagazineWestern Monthly Magazine

SheShe then became a frequent author for then became a frequent author for other publicationsother publications

Harriet’s first book, co-authored with sister Catherine

Marriage to CalvinMarriage to Calvin

When Harriet was 35 she married When Harriet was 35 she married widowed clergyman Calvin Ellis Stowe, a widowed clergyman Calvin Ellis Stowe, a professor at her father’s theological professor at her father’s theological seminaryseminary

They had seven children, including a set of They had seven children, including a set of twins.twins.

Calvin Stowe family, taken in 1850

Her Life’s Work: The Beginning of Her Life’s Work: The Beginning of Social ReformSocial Reform

In Ohio Harriet met escaped slaves from the In Ohio Harriet met escaped slaves from the bordering state Kentuckybordering state Kentucky

Her first solo authored novel, Her first solo authored novel, The MayflowerThe Mayflower, , was published in 1843.was published in 1843.

Found in the Stowe Bible, a quote from Irish poet Sir Isaac Moore

Unwanted ChangeUnwanted Change

Harriet’s youngest son Charley died of Harriet’s youngest son Charley died of cholera in 1849, and Stowe’s book “Our cholera in 1849, and Stowe’s book “Our Charley was published in 1858.Charley was published in 1858.

Charles Edward Stowe, 1850-1934

The Fugitive Slave ActThe Fugitive Slave ActIn 1850, The Fugitive Slave Act was enactedIn 1850, The Fugitive Slave Act was enacted

It stated that it was a crime to assist runaway It stated that it was a crime to assist runaway slavesslaves

Thus, the series “Thus, the series “Uncle Tom’s CabinUncle Tom’s Cabin” was born ” was born

It appeared in the monthly magazine “It appeared in the monthly magazine “EraEra” as a ” as a protestation of the Act.protestation of the Act.

The popularity of the series turned into a book publishing deal

Popularity and CriticsPopularity and CriticsAs a result of the popularity of As a result of the popularity of Uncle Uncle Tom’s CabinTom’s Cabin, Harriet spoke about , Harriet spoke about emancipation all over North America and emancipation all over North America and EuropeEurope

Her Southern critics were harsh, and in Her Southern critics were harsh, and in defense of her publication, Harriet wrote defense of her publication, Harriet wrote The Key to Uncle Tom’s CabinThe Key to Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1853. in 1853.

A stamp commemorates Harriet’s work and her travels

More than a One-Book AuthorMore than a One-Book AuthorOther novels published include Sunny Other novels published include Sunny Memories (1854), Dred: A Tale of the Memories (1854), Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp (1856), and Great Dismal Swamp (1856), and Minister’s Wooing (1859).Minister’s Wooing (1859).

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Stowe wrote prolifically: short stories and Stowe wrote prolifically: short stories and novels alike.novels alike.

Influential FriendsInfluential Friends

The family moved in 1873 to Hartford, The family moved in 1873 to Hartford, Connecticut, and was Mark Twain’s Connecticut, and was Mark Twain’s neighborneighbor

Harriet befriended Abraham Lincoln, Harriet befriended Abraham Lincoln, Prince Albert, The Duke of Argyl, John Prince Albert, The Duke of Argyl, John Ruskin, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Oliver Ruskin, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Charles Dickens, and Wendell Holmes, Charles Dickens, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Abe

Death Does Not Decrease ImpactDeath Does Not Decrease Impact

Although Harriet died in Although Harriet died in 1896, the impact of her 1896, the impact of her work created the work created the opportunity for social reform opportunity for social reform through decades and through decades and generations. generations.

Her work is still relevant Her work is still relevant today.today.

Images Cited_________________________Slide 1: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/assets/jb/reform/jb_reform_beecher_1_m.gif http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/life/#mark

Slide 2: http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/life/#childhood

Slide 3: http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/digital/2001/beecher/images/beecher_015.jpg http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/digital/2001/beecher/images/beecher_015.jpg&imgrefurl=http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/digital/2001/beecher/harriet.htm&h=500&w=338&sz=39&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=kzHBKjUxQbYnnM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=88&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dharriet%2Bbeecher%2Bstowe%2527s%2Bfather%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den Slide 4: http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/life/#childhood

Slide 5: http://www.avenuedstereo.com/modern/beecher_title.jpg

Slide 6: http://museum.icp.org/museum/exhibitions/southworth_hawes/images/image_bio_cestowe.jpg http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/digital/2001/beecher/images/beecher_001.jpg

Slide 7: http://www.uwm.edu/Library/special/exhibits/clastext/clastextimages/sto1938a.jpg http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.seaportautographs.com/images/stowe.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.seaportautographs.com/lincolnandcivilwar.htm&h=400&w=499&sz=21&hl=en&start=196&tbnid=2SknQLaxrNflDM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwriting%2Bof%2BHarriet%2BBeecher%2BStowe%26start%3D180%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Slide 8: http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org/life/#charlese http://www.amazon.com/Our-Charley-What-Do-Him/dp/1408638029/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216259369&sr=8-1

Slide 9: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sonofthesouth.net/slavery/african-american-art/uncle-tom-cabin.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sonofthesouth.net/slavery/african-american-art/uncle-tom-cabin-topsy.htm&h=849&w=600&sz=100&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=hlRxGStrLbnwnM:&tbnh=145&tbnw=102&prev=/images%3Fq%3Duncle%2Btom%2527s%2Bcabin%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://img.inkfrog.com/pix/rebelsoldier/UCTfrontis2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php%3Faz%3Dview_all%26address%3D225x1279&h=672&w=444&sz=56&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=iS-dEIxqnQsEXM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=91&prev=/images%3Fq%3Duncle%2Btom%2527s%2Bcabin%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Denhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61ynMoMf06L.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bookrags.com/Uncle_Tom%27s_Cabin&h=500&w=421&sz=80&hl=en&start=7&tbnid=cezi5KyH2uTkaM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3Duncle%2Btom%2527s%2Bcabin%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

slide 10: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e3/Stowe-Key-cover.jpg&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Key_to_Uncle_Tom%27s_Cabin&h=331&w=220&sz=52&hl=en&start=10&tbnid=z-FGCKWtWL91-M:&tbnh=119&tbnw=79&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bkey%2Bto%2Buncle%2Btoms%2Bcabin%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Denhttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007stamps/definitives/images/2007hbstowe75_300.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007stamps/definitives/&h=337&w=300&sz=51&hl=en&start=19&tbnid=NgTktrCvHxt8BM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=106&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dharriet%2Bbeecher%2Bstowe%2Btraveling%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den

slide 11: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/wildershores/images/LTStoweHB_small.jpg http://www.soldierstudies.org/images/webquest/civil%20war%20soldiers.jpg

slide 12: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.americaslibrary.gov/assets/jb/civil/jb_civil_lincoln2_1_e.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/civil/jb_civil_lincoln2_1_e.html&h=575&w=437&sz=44&hl=en&start=22&tbnid=6SyZTh5PcoMdrM:&tbnh=134&tbnw=102&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dabraham%2Blincoln%26start%3D20%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DNslide 13: http://www.notablebiographies.com/images/uewb_09_img0663.jpg