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“KATHARINE LEE BATES: — poet of 'America the Beautiful,’ social activist, global traveler, and feminist—in Chicago, 1893”
Katharine Lee Bates’s “America the Beautiful” resonates for many people as the most patriotic and beloved American anthem. Her words remind us of why we love our country: the beauty of our land, the historic sacrifices of our people, and our ideals of hope and brotherhood. That has never been more important than today.
Drawing on extensive research in Bates family diaries, letters, and memoirs, biographer Melinda M. Ponder brings Katharine vividly to life. The book talk will emphasize her connection to Chicago and the many roles she had in her life as poet, academic, social activist, global traveler and feminist. The book will be available for purchase at the event or can be purchased on Amazon. Melinda will be happy to sign your book. You can read more about the book and author at melindaponder.com.
How I loved this splendid biography! Melinda Ponder brings Katharine Lee Bates to life as never before. And what a fascinating, remarkable woman she was—so much more important in the history and literature of our country than I had realized.
~Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize historian
Melinda M. Ponder is a graduate of Katharine Lee Bates’s Wellesley College and received a M.A. in American studies and a Ph.D. in English and American literature from Boston College. She has published numerous articles and given many talks and interviews on Katharine Lee Bates, and has published two books on Nathaniel Hawthorne as well.
Born in Indianapolis, she now resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was on the faculty of Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Melinda was the college roommate of LWV member Liz Quigg.