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Fanny Purdy Palmer (, Purdy;
pen name A pen name or nom-de-plume is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen name may be used to make the author's na ...
, Florio; July 11, 1839 – 1923) was an American author, poet, journalist, lecturer, social activist, and clubwoman. She began club work in 1876 and was one of the originators of the
General Federation of Women's Clubs The General Federation of Women's Clubs (GFWC), founded in 1890 during the Progressive Movement, is a federation of approximately 2,300 women's clubs in the United States which promote civic improvements through volunteer service. Community Serv ...
. She served as president of the
Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...
Woman's Club, was a member of the school committee of the city of
Providence, Rhode Island Providence () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Rhode Island, most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The county seat of Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, it is o ...
, and was connected with various philanthropic and social movements, including
women's suffrage Women's suffrage is the women's rights, right of women to Suffrage, vote in elections. Several instances occurred in recent centuries where women were selectively given, then stripped of, the right to vote. In Sweden, conditional women's suffra ...
. A diligent reader of some of the best scientific and metaphysical works, for many years, she was a writer of stories which appeared in various weekly and monthly publications, stories which have dealt with the problems of life.


Early life and education

Mary Francis (
nickname A nickname, in some circumstances also known as a sobriquet, or informally a "moniker", is an informal substitute for the proper name of a person, place, or thing, used to express affection, playfulness, contempt, or a particular character trait ...
, "Fanny" or "Fannie") Purdy was born in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
,
New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...
, July 11, 1839. She was the only child of Henry and Mary Catherine Sharp Purdy, descended on her father's side from Capt. Purdy, of the British army, who was killed in the
Battle of White Plains The Battle of White Plains took place during the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War on October 28, 1776, near White Plains, New York. Following the retreat of George Washington's Continental Army northward from N ...
, and a member of whose family was among the early settlers of
Westchester County, New York Westchester County is a County (United States), county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, bordering the Long Island Sound and the Byram River to its east and the Hudson River on its west. The c ...
. On the maternal side, Palmer descended of the Shams, a family of Scotch origin settled in
Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It is located on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River. Albany is the oldes ...
, about 1750, and having descendants for four generations residing in New York City. Palmer had the advantage of a good early education, acquired in part in the Convent of the Sacred Heart, in Eggertsville, a suburb of
Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...
, and later in
Packer Collegiate Institute The Packer Collegiate Institute is an independent college preparatory school for students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Formerly the Brooklyn Female Academy, Packer has been located at 170 Joralemon Street in the historic district of ...
,
Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
.


Career

Her literary bent was early indicated by contributions to the ''
Home Journal ''Town & Country'', formerly the ''Home Journal'' and ''The National Press'', is a monthly American lifestyle magazine. It is the oldest continually published general interest magazine in the United States. History Early history The magazine ...
'' over the pen name of "Florio", and to ''
Putnam's Magazine ''Putnam's Monthly Magazine of American Literature, Science and Art'' was a monthly periodical published by G. P. Putnam's Sons featuring American literature and articles on science, art, and politics. Series The magazine had three incarnation ...
'' and ''
Peterson's Magazine ''Peterson's Magazine'' (1842–1898) was an American magazine focused on women. It was published monthly and based in Philadelphia. In 1842, Charles Jacobs Peterson and George Rex Graham, partners in the ''Saturday Evening Post'', agreed ...
''. On October 7, 1862, she married Dr. William H. Palmer, Surgeon of the Third New York Cavalry, and accompanied him to the seat of the
civil war A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
, there continuing her literary work, during the four years which ensued, by short stories and poems for ''
Harper's ''Harper's Magazine'' is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts. Launched in New York City in June 1850, it is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the United States. ''Harper's Magazine'' has ...
'' periodicals and '' The Galaxy'', and letters to various newspapers from
North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...
and
Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. In 1867, Dr. and Mrs. Palmer located in Providence, Rhode Island. During those years, she was continuously identified with all the prominent measures for the advancement of women and with many philanthropic and educational movements. From 1876 to 1884, she served as a member of the Providence school committee. For several years, she was secretary of the Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Association. For the year, 1891-92 she was president of the Woman's Educational and Industrial Union; and from 1884 to 1894, she was the president of the Rhode Island Women's Club. In 1895, at the Second Biennial Meeting of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, an organization which comprised between 500 and 600 women's clubs and included more than a million members in the U.S., she was elected auditor. The following year, as President of the Short Story Club, she attended the Third Biennial Meeting of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. Her public work was accompanied by habits of systematic private study and of professional literary employment involving regular work on one or two weekly newspapers. Palmer affiliated with various parlor clubs and reading circles, and her own reading, especially in philosophy and history, gave her a mental discipline and a wide range of culture. She was appointed factory inspector of Rhode Island in 1895, and served in that capacity three years, while her interests were greatly centered on the compulsory education law for children under 14. She took special interest in popularizing the study of American history, having herself prepared and given a series of "Familiar Talks on American History" as a branch of the educational work of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union. She was one of the managers of the Providence Free Kindergarten Association, and served as secretary of a society organized to secure for women the educational privileges of
Brown University Brown University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is the List of colonial colleges, seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the US, founded in 1764 as the ' ...
. She was the author of a volume of short stories, ''A Dead Level and Other Episodes'' (Buffalo, 1892), as well as ''A List of Rhode Island Literary Women'' (1893); ''California and Other Sonnets'' (1909); ''Dates and Days in Europe By an American resident in London'' (1915); and ''Outpost Message by Fanny Purdy Palmer With a Biographical Sketch by Her Daughter'' (1924, with Henrietta R. Palmer).


Personal life

By 1902, Palmer was living in
La Jolla, California La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood in San Diego, California, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781. The climate is mild, with an average daily temperature o ...
where she owned a home, though she spent much of her time abroad. She had two children, a son and a daughter (Henrietta), the latter having studied at
Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr College ( ; Welsh language, Welsh: ) is a Private college, private Women's colleges in the United States, women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as a ...
.


Death and legacy

Palmer died in 1923. Posthumously, her daughter, Henrietta, published ''Outpost Message by Fanny Purdy Palmer With a Biographical Sketch by Her Daughter'', in 1924. On May 28, 1924, the City of Providence received the sum of to be known as the "Dr. William H. Palmer Trust Fund" and to be expended for hospital purposes under the direction of the Board of Hospital Commissioners. This sum was bequeathed by Fannie to her daughter, Henrietta, to be held in trust and the interest therefrom to revert to her for life and then to revert to the City of Providence as a gift in memory of Dr. William H. Palmer, late husband of Fannie. Henrietta by deed transferred and assigned her life interest in said trust fund to the City of Providence as a part of said gift of her mother in memory of her father, and she authorized and directed the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Company, executor under the will of Fannie, to pay to the City of Providence the sum of , free and discharged from the trust created in her favor. The City Council under date of May 12, 1924, in accepting this gift extended to Henrietta the thanks of the city for assigning her life interest in said fund to the City of Providence, thus making the principal sum of immediately available for hospital work.


Awards and honors

In 2020, she was inducted into the
Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame The Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame was established in the State of Rhode Island in 1965. Mission The Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame Officers The Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame is managed by a president, vice president, recording ...
.


Selected works

* ''A List of Rhode Island Literary Women, (1726-1892,) With Some Account of Their Work.'', 1893 * ''California and Other Sonnets'', 1909 * ''Dates and Days in Europe By an American resident in London'', 1915 * ''Outpost Message by Fanny Purdy Palmer With a Biographical Sketch by Her Daughter'', 1924


References


Attribution

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External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Palmer, Fanny Purdy 1839 births 1923 deaths 19th-century American short story writers 19th-century American biographers 19th-century American poets 19th-century American journalists 19th-century American women journalists 20th-century American short story writers 20th-century American biographers 20th-century American poets 20th-century American journalists 20th-century American women journalists 20th-century American women writers Journalists from New York City Clubwomen Pseudonymous women writers Wikipedia articles incorporating text from A Woman of the Century American women activists 19th-century pseudonymous writers 20th-century pseudonymous writers American lecturers Suffragists from Rhode Island