Edith Ogden Harrison
Encyclopedia
Edith Ogden Harrison was a well-known and prolific author of children's books
and fairy tales
in the early decades of the twentieth century. She was also the wife of Carter Harrison, Jr.
, five-term mayor of Chicago
.
Edith Ogden was born to Robert N. Ogden, Jr.
and Sarah L Beattie, and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana
; she was a "belle of cultured, aristocratic habits who acquitted herself well in the parlors of the Potter Palmer
s and Marshall Field
s" and other Chicago notables. She married Carter Harrison on December 14, 1887. Their first child died in infancy in 1889; they had two surviving children, Carter Henry Harrison V, born June 28, 1891, and Edith Ogden Harrison II, born January 21, 1896. (Their son was the fifth of that name because his father was, formally, Carter Henry Harrison IV. He was known in his political career as "Junior" because his father, Carter Henry Harrison III
, had preceded him in office and had been one of Chicago's most famous mayors. Confusion arises when "Junior" is erroneously referred to as "Carter Harrison II.") The couple celebrated the fiftieth wedding anniversary of an apparently happy marriage in 1937.
In the first phase of her literary career, Edith O. Harrison concentrated on children's literature; later she wrote travel books and autobiographical works. Her early book Prince Silverwings
was adapted by family acquaintance L. Frank Baum
for a dramatization that never made it to the stage. (All Chicago theaters were closed after the Iroquois Theater fire
on 30 December 1903 caused 570 fatalities.) In the process, influences from Harrison's book appear to have found their way into Baum's works.
She did not abandon her theatrical ambitions: over a number of years Harrison and Baum tried to establish a children's theater in Chicago. They were still working on the project as late as 1915, but without success.
Harrison's 1912 novel The Lady of the Snows was made into a film of the same title in 1915. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/228980/The-Lady-of-the-Snows/overview
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
and fairy tales
Fairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
in the early decades of the twentieth century. She was also the wife of Carter Harrison, Jr.
Carter Harrison, Jr.
Carter Henry Harrison, Jr. served as Mayor of Chicago . The City's 30th mayor, he was the first actually born in Chicago....
, five-term mayor of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
Edith Ogden was born to Robert N. Ogden, Jr.
Robert N. Ogden, Jr.
.Robert Nash Ogden, Jr was an author, confederate Lieutenant colonel, judge, orator, poets, lawyer and Speakers of the Louisiana House of Representatives....
and Sarah L Beattie, and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
; she was a "belle of cultured, aristocratic habits who acquitted herself well in the parlors of the Potter Palmer
Potter Palmer
Potter Palmer was an American businessman who was responsible for much of the development of State Street in Chicago.-Retailing career:...
s and Marshall Field
Marshall Field
Marshall Field was founder of Marshall Field and Company, the Chicago-based department stores.-Life and career:...
s" and other Chicago notables. She married Carter Harrison on December 14, 1887. Their first child died in infancy in 1889; they had two surviving children, Carter Henry Harrison V, born June 28, 1891, and Edith Ogden Harrison II, born January 21, 1896. (Their son was the fifth of that name because his father was, formally, Carter Henry Harrison IV. He was known in his political career as "Junior" because his father, Carter Henry Harrison III
Carter Harrison, Sr.
Carter Henry Harrison, Sr. was an American politician who served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois from 1879 until 1887; he was subsequently elected to a fifth term in 1893 but was assassinated before completing his term. He previously served two terms in the United States House of Representatives...
, had preceded him in office and had been one of Chicago's most famous mayors. Confusion arises when "Junior" is erroneously referred to as "Carter Harrison II.") The couple celebrated the fiftieth wedding anniversary of an apparently happy marriage in 1937.
In the first phase of her literary career, Edith O. Harrison concentrated on children's literature; later she wrote travel books and autobiographical works. Her early book Prince Silverwings
Prince Silverwings
Prince Silverwings and Other Stories is a 1902 children's book by Edith Ogden Harrison. The book is best known because she collaborated with L. Frank Baum on an uncompleted stage adaptation of the book as a musical exravaganza...
was adapted by family acquaintance L. Frank Baum
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
for a dramatization that never made it to the stage. (All Chicago theaters were closed after the Iroquois Theater fire
Iroquois Theater Fire
The Iroquois Theatre fire occurred on December 30, 1903, in Chicago, Illinois. It is the deadliest theater fire and the deadliest single-building fire in United States history...
on 30 December 1903 caused 570 fatalities.) In the process, influences from Harrison's book appear to have found their way into Baum's works.
She did not abandon her theatrical ambitions: over a number of years Harrison and Baum tried to establish a children's theater in Chicago. They were still working on the project as late as 1915, but without success.
Harrison's 1912 novel The Lady of the Snows was made into a film of the same title in 1915. http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/228980/The-Lady-of-the-Snows/overview
Works of Edith Ogden Harrison
- Prince SilverwingsPrince SilverwingsPrince Silverwings and Other Stories is a 1902 children's book by Edith Ogden Harrison. The book is best known because she collaborated with L. Frank Baum on an uncompleted stage adaptation of the book as a musical exravaganza...
and Other Fairy Tales, 1902 - The Star Fairies, 1903
- The Moon Princess, 1905
- The Flaming Sword, 1908
- Ladder of Moonlight, 1909
- The Mocking-bird, 1909
- Pole Star, 1909
- Princess Sayrane, 1910
- The Glittering Festival, 1911
- The Lady of the Snows, 1912
- The Enchanted House, 1913 (illustrated by Frederick RichardsonFrederick RichardsonFrederick Richardson was an American illustrator of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, perhaps best remembered for his illustrations of works by L. Frank Baum....
) - Clemencia's Crisis, 1915
- Below the Equator, 1918
- Lands of the Sun: Impressions of a Visit to Tropical Lands, 1925
- Grey Moss, 1929
- The Scarlet Riders, 1930
- Strange to Say: Recollections of Persons and Events in New Orleans and Chicago, 1949.