Mary Hastings Bradley
Encyclopedia
Mary Hastings Bradley was a traveler and author. She was the mother of author Alice Sheldon ("James Tiptree, Jr.").
in 1905 where she majored in English. After graduation she traveled to Egypt
with a cousin and was inspired to write “The Palace of Darkened Windows” and “The Fortieth Door” detailing the life of the veiled and secluded women of Egypt. Both of these stories were later made into film further giving audience to Bradley’s writings. While doing research for her book “The Favor of Kings” in Oxford she met her husband Herbert Bradley. Herbert Bradley was a lawyer; big game hunter, traveler and explorer who later helped found the Brookfield Zoo
. They were married in 1910 and five years later they had a daughter Alice.
In 1921 and 1922 Mary, Herbert and Alice traveled to the Belgian Congo
with Carl E. Akley of the American Museum of Natural History, for specimens of the mountain gorilla for display in the museum. These expeditions were described in her books, “On the Gorilla Trail”, “Alice in Jungleland” and “Alice in Elephantland”. In 1938 her story "The Life of the Party" was chosen to appear in The The O. Henry Prize Stories
anthology.. As a war correspondent for Colliers Magazine
in 1945 Mary took on the difficult task of reporting on women in the military in Italy, France, and Germany. At the close of the war she recounted her tour of concentration camps in a magazine feature series on the Holocaust.
Bradley was a prolific author of mysteries, travel books, short fiction and novels most notably the Old Chicago series of historical novels . She was frequently asked to lecture on her travels and was inducted into the Society of Women Geographers, whose membership included Amelia Earhart
, Margaret Mead
, and Eleanor Roosevelt
. Bradley was one of the few female presidents of the Society of Midland Authors as well as an active clubwoman in Chicago.
It was Bradley’s death in late October 1976 that inadvertently revealed that her daughter Alice B. Sheldon was prominent science fiction writer James Tiptree, Jr.
Life and work
Bradley was born in 1882 in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from Smith CollegeSmith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1905 where she majored in English. After graduation she traveled to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
with a cousin and was inspired to write “The Palace of Darkened Windows” and “The Fortieth Door” detailing the life of the veiled and secluded women of Egypt. Both of these stories were later made into film further giving audience to Bradley’s writings. While doing research for her book “The Favor of Kings” in Oxford she met her husband Herbert Bradley. Herbert Bradley was a lawyer; big game hunter, traveler and explorer who later helped found the Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield Zoo
The Brookfield Zoo is zoo located in the Chicago suburb of Brookfield, Illinois. The zoo covers an area of and houses around 450 species of animals....
. They were married in 1910 and five years later they had a daughter Alice.
In 1921 and 1922 Mary, Herbert and Alice traveled to the Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
with Carl E. Akley of the American Museum of Natural History, for specimens of the mountain gorilla for display in the museum. These expeditions were described in her books, “On the Gorilla Trail”, “Alice in Jungleland” and “Alice in Elephantland”. In 1938 her story "The Life of the Party" was chosen to appear in The The O. Henry Prize Stories
O. Henry Award
The O. Henry Award is the only yearly award given to short stories of exceptional merit. The award is named after the American master of the form, O. Henry....
anthology.. As a war correspondent for Colliers Magazine
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
in 1945 Mary took on the difficult task of reporting on women in the military in Italy, France, and Germany. At the close of the war she recounted her tour of concentration camps in a magazine feature series on the Holocaust.
Bradley was a prolific author of mysteries, travel books, short fiction and novels most notably the Old Chicago series of historical novels . She was frequently asked to lecture on her travels and was inducted into the Society of Women Geographers, whose membership included Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
, Margaret Mead
Margaret Mead
Margaret Mead was an American cultural anthropologist, who was frequently a featured writer and speaker in the mass media throughout the 1960s and 1970s....
, and Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
. Bradley was one of the few female presidents of the Society of Midland Authors as well as an active clubwoman in Chicago.
It was Bradley’s death in late October 1976 that inadvertently revealed that her daughter Alice B. Sheldon was prominent science fiction writer James Tiptree, Jr.
Selected bibliography
- The Palace of Darkened Windows, 1914
- The Road of Desperation, 1932
- Murder in the Family, 1951
- Nice People Poison, 1952