Georgie A. Hulse McLeod | |
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Born | Georgiana Amelia Hulse 1827 Pensacola, Florida, U.S. |
Died | July 2, 1890 (aged 62–63) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
Pen name |
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Occupation |
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Spouse |
Alexander W. McLeod (
m. 1853) |
Children | 3 |
Georgie A. Hulse McLeod ( née, Hulse; pen name, various, including Mary A. Holmes and Flora Neale; 1827–1890) was a 19th-century author and hymnwriter of Southern United States literature, as well as an educator and temperance activist. She was well known in literary and temperance circles throughout the American South. [1]
For 18 years, she corresponded with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who took much interest in her and in her work. [2] She received encouragement from Lydia Sigourney, while Dr. Benjamin Franklin Thompson, the Long Island historian, was also one of McLeod's steadfast friends. [1] [2] [3]
Georgiana ( nickname, "Georgie") Amelia Hulse was born was born in 1827, [4] near Pensacola, Florida, at the naval hospital, of which her father was then surgeon. [5] [6] [3] [a] She was the daughter of Dr. Isaac Hulse (1797–1856), surgeon of the United States Navy, and Amelia Roberts Hulse (1801–1827), [1] [4] a native of Pensacola. [2] Rev. Dr. George Roberts, of Baltimore was her grandfather. [3] Dr. Thomas Roberts, of Baltimore, was her uncle. [1]
While an infant, Georgie's mother died, and she was reared by her grandparents in Baltimore. [5] [b] In her childhood, she mingled in French society, the naval officers of French men-of-war ships being frequent guests of her father when in port. [2]
She evinced a taste for literature while still a girl. In order to complete her education, she was sent to a convent, where she remained several years. While still a girl, she contributed to several periodicals under various pen names. [1] [2] [3]
While in school, she wrote Sunbeams and Shadows. It was published by the Appletons, New York, soon after completing her education, some time prior to 1853. [6] Also written while at school and published by Appleton & Co. was Aunt Minnie's Portfolio. [1]
In 1853, she married the Rev. Dr. Alexander W. McLeod, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where for a time they resided. He was a Canadian divine and editor of the official organ of the Wesleyan Methodists of the lower provinces. Their children were: Isaac, Nelly, and Daisy. [4]
In Halifax, she published, Ivy Leaves from the Old Homestead, which contains both prose and poems. This was soon followed by Thine and Mine and Seadrift, which was published by Messrs. Derby & Jackson in New York City. [1] [5] [6] [3]
Since the end of the civil war, she published Sea-Drifts (1867), a collection of largely serious stories embracing poems. It deals mainly with school-girls, their ways and thoughts, their joys and trials. [7] McLeod was also the author of Bright Memories, very similar to Sea-Drifts, except possibly more religious. [1] [5] [6] [3] [8] There is great similarity among these volumes. They are eminently moral, sometimes religious, and always temperate in being removed from the sensational and melodramatic. [6] She completed a book for juveniles, entitled Standing Guard, and a novel, The Old, Old Story. [7]
McLeod was a constant contributor to magazines, in the North and the South, under the signature of "Flora Neale", and other noms de plume. [7] McLeod also wrote lyrics to several hymns. [9] A very industrious writer, she considered her writing as a recreation. [7]
In the 1860s, she was the Principal of the Southern Literary Institute, Baltimore, [1] [6] [3] where many Southern girls from the best families were educated. [5] She gave free tuition to one young lady, the daughter of a deceased Confederate soldier, from each Southern State. [7]
McLeod was the secretary of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.) of Maryland and the Southern secretary for the National W.C.T.U. [1]
She was writing a prohibition story, entitled Unprotected Home, when taken sick. [1] Georgie A. Hulse McLeod died at Baltimore, July 2, 1890. [1] [2]