Neltje Blanchan
Encyclopedia
Neltje Blanchan De Graff Doubleday (October 23, 1865 – February 21, 1918) was a United States scientific historian and nature writer who wrote books on gardening
and birds under the pen name
Neltje Blanchan. Her work is known for its synthesis of scientific interest with poetic phrasing.
She was born in Chicago to Liverius De Graff, a proprietor of a men's clothing store, and Alice Fair. She was educated at St. John's
in New York City and Misses' Masters School (see Estherwood
) in Dobbs Ferry, New York
.
She married Frank Nelson Doubleday
in Plainsfield, New Jersey on June 9, 1886. They had two sons and one daughter: Felix Doty (adopted), Nelson
(1889–1949) and Dorothy. They had homes in both New York City and Oyster Bay
. She entertained regularly and participated in philanthropic work for the American Red Cross
.
In 1917 she visited the Philippines and China
on special assignment as a commissioner for the Red Cross. She died suddenly in Canton, China on February 21, 1918 at age 52.
Some of her papers (1914–1918) are in the Frank N. Doubleday and Nelson Doubleday Collection at the Princeton University Library
.
There is a Neltje Blanchan Literary Award given by the Wyoming Arts Council
, which is given annually to "a writer whose work, in any genre, is inspired by nature." The award was created by Blanchan's grand daughter, who served on the board of the Council from 1985 to 1988 and later gifted to the University of Wyoming
much of her estate (including her land, buildings, art collections) to become the UW Neltje Center for the Visual and Literary Arts.
Nellie's grandson Nelson Doubleday Jr. purchased the New York Mets
in 1986.
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
and birds under the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Neltje Blanchan. Her work is known for its synthesis of scientific interest with poetic phrasing.
She was born in Chicago to Liverius De Graff, a proprietor of a men's clothing store, and Alice Fair. She was educated at St. John's
St. John's Preparatory School (New York City)
St. John's Preparatory School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York City, New York. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.-Background:...
in New York City and Misses' Masters School (see Estherwood
Estherwood (Dobbs Ferry, New York)
Estherwood is a late 19th-century mansion located on the campus of The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, United States. It was the home of industrial tycoon James Jenning McComb, who supported Masters financially in its early years when his daughters attended. The house's octagonal library...
) in Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry, New York
Dobbs Ferry is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 10,875 at the 2010 census.The Village of Dobbs Ferry is located in, and is a part of, the town of Greenburgh...
.
She married Frank Nelson Doubleday
Frank Nelson Doubleday
Frank Nelson Doubleday , known to friends and family as “Effendi”, was a famous U.S. publisher. His most significant achievement was as founder of the eponymous Doubleday & McClure Company in 1897.-Biography:...
in Plainsfield, New Jersey on June 9, 1886. They had two sons and one daughter: Felix Doty (adopted), Nelson
Nelson Doubleday
Nelson Doubleday was a U.S. book publisher. He was the nephew of author Russell Doubleday, the son of Frank Nelson Doubleday and Neltje Blanchan, and the father of Nelson Doubleday Jr....
(1889–1949) and Dorothy. They had homes in both New York City and Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay
- Place names :In Australia* Oyster Bay, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia* Great Oyster Bay, a bay on the east coast of Tasmania, AustraliaIn South Africa...
. She entertained regularly and participated in philanthropic work for the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
.
In 1917 she visited the Philippines and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
on special assignment as a commissioner for the Red Cross. She died suddenly in Canton, China on February 21, 1918 at age 52.
Some of her papers (1914–1918) are in the Frank N. Doubleday and Nelson Doubleday Collection at the Princeton University Library
Princeton University Library
Princeton University Library is the main library system of Princeton University. With holdings of more than 7 million books, 6 million microforms, and 37,000 linear feet of manuscripts, it is headquartered in the Harvey S...
.
There is a Neltje Blanchan Literary Award given by the Wyoming Arts Council
Wyoming Arts Council
The Wyoming Arts Council is a state funded arts group which provides grants to art and cultural projects within Wyoming....
, which is given annually to "a writer whose work, in any genre, is inspired by nature." The award was created by Blanchan's grand daughter, who served on the board of the Council from 1985 to 1988 and later gifted to the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
much of her estate (including her land, buildings, art collections) to become the UW Neltje Center for the Visual and Literary Arts.
Nellie's grandson Nelson Doubleday Jr. purchased the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in 1986.
Published works
- Bird NeighborsBird NeighborsBird Neighbors is a book published in 1897 by Neltje Blanchan. After that, this book is also published by the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation in 1999....
(1897) - Birds That Hunt and Are Hunted
- Nature's Garden (1900)
- "What the Basket Means to the Indian," a chapter in Mary White's How To Make Baskets (1901)
- Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect VisitorsWild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect VisitorsWild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of our Wild Flowers and their Insect Visitors is a book published in 1900 by Neltje Blanchan. The book was also published by the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation in 2002....
(1901) - Birds Every Child Should Know (1907)
- The American Flower Garden (1909)
- Wild Flowers Worth KnowingWild Flowers Worth KnowingWild Flowers Worth Knowing is a book published in 1917 and 1922 by Neltje Blanchan and covers mostly North American species with a sprinkling of cosmopolitans. The book was also published by the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation in 2005....
(adapted by Asa Don Dickenson, 1917, 1922) - Birds: Selected from the Writings of Neltje Blanchan (posthumously, 1930)