Hildegarde Dolson Lockridge
Encyclopedia
Hildegarde Dolson Lockridge (1908–1981) was a prolific writer whose career spanned nearly fifty years. Her work appeared in major magazines, plus she was the author of fifteen books—all published under her maiden name of Hildegarde Dolson.
, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, but left at the beginning of her senior year to live in New York City
. She would later joke "The day I arrived in New York, in October 1929, the stock market crashed with a bang.
After holding down numerous jobs Miss Dolson found work as an advertising copywriter for Gimbels, Macy's, Franklin-Simon, and Bamberger stores. She sold her first manuscript to The New Yorker, and was later published in other major magazines, including Harper's, Ladies Home Journal, McCall's, and Reader's Digest. After her first book was published in 1938, Miss Dolson became a full-time freelance writer.
In 1965, when she was 56, she met mystery writer Richard Lockridge
, and Lockridge quickly decided he wanted to marry her. Miss Dolson loved her Greenwich Village apartment, and Mr. Lockridge lived in the country. He had two beloved Siamese cats, and she preferred dogs.
Despite the obstacles, within a few months of their first meeting Mr. Lockridge and Miss Dolson married in May 1965. Lockridge would refer to Hilegarde as either Hildy, or The Lady.
Hildegarde Dolson Lockridge died on January 15, 1981 at St. Luke's Hospital in Columbus, North Carolina. She was 72 years old, and had been living in Tyron, North Carolina.
Early life
Hildegarde was born and raised in Franklin, Pennsylvania, the oldest of four children born to Clifford and Katherine Dolson. From 1926 to 1929 she attended Allegheny CollegeAllegheny College
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the town of Meadville. Founded in 1815, the college has about 2,100 undergraduate students.-Early history:...
, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, but left at the beginning of her senior year to live in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She would later joke "The day I arrived in New York, in October 1929, the stock market crashed with a bang.
After holding down numerous jobs Miss Dolson found work as an advertising copywriter for Gimbels, Macy's, Franklin-Simon, and Bamberger stores. She sold her first manuscript to The New Yorker, and was later published in other major magazines, including Harper's, Ladies Home Journal, McCall's, and Reader's Digest. After her first book was published in 1938, Miss Dolson became a full-time freelance writer.
Published books
- How About a Man, 1938
- We Shook the Family Tree, 1946
- The Husband Who Ran Away, 1948
- The Form Divine, 1951
- Sorry To Be So Cheerful, 1955
- My Brother Adlai (with Elizabeth Stevenson), 1956
- A Growing Wonder, 1957
- The Great Oildorado: The Gaudy & Turbulent Years of the First Oil Rush: Pennsylvania 1859-1880, 1959
- Guess Who's Hair I'm Wearing, 1960
- William Penn, Quaker Hero, 1961
- Adventures of a Light-Headed Blonde, 1964
- Disaster at Johnston, The Great Flood, 1965
- Open the Door, 1966
- Heat Lightning, 1970
- To Spite Her Face, 1971
- A Dying Face, 1973
- Please Omit Funeral, 1975
- Beauty Sleep, 1977
Marriage to Richard Lockridge
Miss Dolson once wrote "I'm a self-made spinster who crows too much about it, especially when I get paid by the word." She had at least one article published on the subject of why she should never marry.In 1965, when she was 56, she met mystery writer Richard Lockridge
Richard Lockridge
Richard Orson Lockridge was an American writer of detective fiction. Richard Lockridge with his wife Frances created one of the most famous American mystery series, Mr. and Mrs. North....
, and Lockridge quickly decided he wanted to marry her. Miss Dolson loved her Greenwich Village apartment, and Mr. Lockridge lived in the country. He had two beloved Siamese cats, and she preferred dogs.
Despite the obstacles, within a few months of their first meeting Mr. Lockridge and Miss Dolson married in May 1965. Lockridge would refer to Hilegarde as either Hildy, or The Lady.
Hildegarde Dolson Lockridge died on January 15, 1981 at St. Luke's Hospital in Columbus, North Carolina. She was 72 years old, and had been living in Tyron, North Carolina.