Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman

Max Lester Loges (Lamar University)
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Mary E. Wilkins Freeman was a late nineteenth and early twentieth century American writer of short stories, novels and children’s literature. She is best known for her depictions of New England villages and the characters that inhabit them.

Mary was born October 31, 1852 in Randolph, Massachusetts, to Warren and Eleanor Lothrop Wilkins. Both parents came from old New England families. Her father was a successful carpenter and house builder. In 1867 he moved his family to Brattleboro, Vermont, where he entered the dry-goods business. The original plan was to build a spacious home what would provide Eleanor with a better work space and a more comfortable situation for the entire family (Glasser, 16). Mary attended Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary over the 1870-71 school year but found the

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Citation: Loges, Max Lester. "Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 13 January 2014 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1629, accessed 19 March 2024.]

1629 Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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