1831-1916
Amanda Douglas was a children’s author who wrote dozens of published books, with some sources saying 92! The Newark News wrote, “Young and old enjoy her writings” and she “had been a favorite author among thousands of readers.”
Amanda was born in New York City, but moved to Newark by 1850, when she appears on the census. She lived at 461 (1905) and 470 (1910) Summer Ave and earlier on Orange Street (1880). She attended Randolph Academy and Ladies Seminary in New York, and the City Institute of New York.
Amanda started writing with articles for newspapers including the New York Ledger. By 1860, she gave her job as “Authoress” on the census and in 1866 her first book “In Trust” was published. She published a book a year, sometimes several per year! Her last book was published in 1913.
Amanda was Vice president of the New Jersey Women’s Press Club and a prominent member of the Ray Palmer Club, and other Newark women’s clubs. She was also interested in charity, particularly for St. Barnabas Hospital, and sent many books to hospitals.
Amanda was friends with Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women. She was interested in history and wrote several books on the Crusades. After her death a friend wrote in the Newark News that Amanda was “passionately found of flowers” and “the little eccentricities of her dress amused while they endeared her to her friends. She was exceedingly fond of bright colors…typical of her bright and happy disposition. Always extremely popular…the guest of honor…Toko a dark grey Maltese cat was her favorite companion.”
Bibliography
Cummings, Charles, “From Cundict to Dodge Women with the Write Stuff” Star Ledger Mar 9, 1998
Amanda Minnie Douglas Papers, New Jersey Historical Society
Amanda Minnie Douglas. The New York Times, July 19, 1916, p. 9
“Obituary Newark News – “Amanda Douglas, Novelist is Dead” July 18, 1916
Photo from Newark Library.
“Literary Notes” Newark News Oct 28, 1900
US High School Student Lists, Ancestry.com
US Federal Censuses 1850-1910, Ancestry.com
“A Friends Recollection of Amanda M Douglas” Newark News July 24, 1916