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University of Michigan William L. Clements Library

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Grace Adele Pierce scrapbook, [1890-1894]

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Summary

Creator:
Pierce, Grace Adele
Abstract:
Writer, lecturer, poet, and playwright Grace Adele Pierce compiled this stab-stitched volume of newspaper and other serial cuttings, autographs, manuscript texts, portraits, and drawings around 1890-1894 while she lived at home with her parents in Randolph, New York. The newspaper/serial clippings include announcements for Pierce's lectures, talks, and readings, as well as printed portraits of women writers and original poetry. Two drawings include a sailboat with very finely drawn seaweed; and a pencil portrait of Grace Pierce at her desk, reading a book (by Helen A. Winsoe). Several clipped autographs include those of Jane Mead Welch, Christine Terhune Herrick, and J. Ellen Foster. Pierce also pasted in a handwritten list of books by writer Margaret E. Sangster, titled "Best in my judgement."
Extent:
1 volume
Language:
English
Authors:
Collection processed and finding aid created by Cheney J. Schopieray, March 2022

Background

Scope and Content:

Writer, lecturer, poet, and playwright Grace Adele Pierce compiled this stab-stitched volume of newspaper and other serial cuttings, autographs, manuscript texts, portraits, and drawings around 1890-1894 while Pierce lived at home with her parents in Randolph, New York. The newspaper/serial clippings include announcements for Pierce's lectures, talks, and readings, as well as portraits of women writers and original poetry. Two drawings include a sailboat with very fine seaweed; and a pencil portrait of Grace Pierce at her desk, reading a book (by Helen A. Winsoe). Several clipped autographs include those of Jane Mead Welch, Christine Terhune Herrick, and J. Ellen Foster. Pierce also pasted in a handwritten list of books by writer Margaret E. Sangster, titled "Best in my judgement."

The volume includes one pasted-in autograph letter signed by J. E. Croly, editor of The Home-Maker monthly journal, respecting a submission by Pierce (December 11, 1890).

Biographical / Historical:

Grace Adele Pierce was born on June 7, 1858, to parents John C. and Marion A. Pingrey Pierce. The family lived in Randolph, Cattaraugus County, New York, where Grace's mother worked keeping house and her father raised cattle and cultivated their farmland. She attended the Chamberlain Institute in Randolph, studied with private instructors, and attended Wellesley College. Pierce moved to Santa Monica, California, around 1902. There, she worked as a poet, author, lecturer, and writer for books and magazines. She also worked as a film scenario writer at least between 1913 and 1916.

Grace Pierce received considerable contemporary accolades for the quality of her work. Apart from her contributions of poetry and prose to literary and other periodicals, she wrote multiple books and pamphlets, such as an educational book for children, Child Study of the Classics (Boston, 1898), The Silver Cord and the Golden Bowl (New York, 1901), The Valley of the Hudson in the Days of the Revolution ([New York?], 1909), and "Come Unto Me": Songs of Eternal Life (Calif., 1920). An example of her film contributions includes work on D. W. Griffith's shooting script for "Judith of Bethulia" (1914).

Grace lived with Caroline May Simmons, who is identified as her companion and later as lodger in the United States Censuses of 1910 and 1920. Caroline was born in New York and settled with Grace at 1118 ½ Third Street, where she also worked as a writer and as Grace's amanuensis. Grace Pierce died in December 1923 and in the years afterward, Caroline moved in with her sister, who also lived in Santa Monica. The 1930 census lists Caroline as a writer in the restaurant industry.

Acquisition Information:
2022. M-7466.2 .
Arrangement:

The collection is a single bound volume.

Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open for research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Copyright status is unknown

PREFERRED CITATION:

Grace Adele Pierce Scrapbook, William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan

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Collection

Grace Adele Pierce scrapbook, [1890-1894]
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Total components 1
Last indexed 2023-08-09