Helen Sherman Griffith (1873 - July 13, 1961) was an American author. An Iowan, she was the "prolific" author of the ''Letty Grey'' series of children's books, published by Penn Publishing Company of Philadelphia. She was the daughter of

Hoyt Sherman Major Hoyt Sherman (November 21, 1827 – January 25, 1904), a member of the prominent Sherman family, was an American banker. Biography Hoyt Sherman was born in 1827 in Lancaster, Ohio, the son of Charles R. Sherman, Judge of the Ohio S ...

and Sara Sherman, who was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa at

Hoyt Sherman Place Hoyt Sherman Place, the home of Hoyt Sherman, was built in 1877 and is located in Des Moines, Iowa. History In 1850, Hoyt purchased five acres of land in Des Moines for $105. In 1877, Hoyt Sherman Place, the family home, was completed with the ...

. Helen's bedroom has been restored and is part of the Hoyt Sherman Place house museum. In 1914 she paid a visit to

Des Moines Women's Club The Des Moines Women's Club, founded in 1885 as the Woman's club movement in the United States, women's club movement swept through the United States, today serves the Des Moines community by providing scholarships, support for the local arts comm ...

which was located in Hoyt Sherman Place, her childhood home. An article in the Des Moines Register captured the occasion: "It was at the close of the program that Mrs. Cowles told the delightful news that the Women's Club... board... had voted to dedicate the auditorium on the second floor of the club house to Mrs. Helen Sherman Griffith. It was the same room the Mrs. Griffith, then known to her friends as Nellie Sherman, passed her girlhood days and dreamed her dreams and wove her fancies - dreams and fancies that have since taken more permanent form in delightful stories of children and young folks." She wrote three plays in 1899: ''The Minister's Wife'', ''The Burglar Alarm'', and ''A Borrowed Luncheon''. She had quips published in ''

Lippincott's Monthly Magazine ''Lippincott's Monthly Magazine'' was a 19th-century literary magazine published in Philadelphia from 1868 to 1915, when it relocated to New York to become ''Robert M. McBride, McBride's Magazine''. It merged with ''Scribner's Magazine'' in 1916. ...

''. Her novel for adults, ''The Lane'', was a bestseller in the 1920s.

Bibliography

*''Her Father's Legacy'' (1901), illustrated by

Ida Waugh Ida Waugh (October 24, 1846 – January 25, 1919) was an American illustrator of children's literature who often collaborated with her lifelong companion, Amy Ella Blanchard. Personal life Ida Waugh was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on O ...

*''A Story for Girls'' (1902) illustrated by Ida Waugh *''Social Aspirations'' (1903) *''For Love Or Money; a Comedy in Three Acts'' (1903) *''The Merry Widow Hat: A Farce in One Act for Female Characters'' (1909) *''Reflected Glory: A Farce in One Act (for Female Characters)'' (1909) *''Letty of the Circus'' (1910) illustrated by Francis D. Jones Penn Publishing Company *''A Fallen Idol: A Farce in One Act'' (1911) *''Rosemary for Remembrance'' (1911), illustrated by

Mary Pemberton Ginthier Mary may refer to: People * Mary (name), a feminine given name (includes a list of people with the name) Religious contexts * New Testament people named Mary, overview article linking to many of those below * Mary, mother of Jesus, also calle ...

, Penn Publishing Company *''A Wilful Girl'' (1911) *''Letty's Sister'' (1912) Penn Publishing Company *''Letty's Treasure'' (1913), illustrated by Francis D. Jones, Penn Publishing Company *''Letty's Good Luck'' (1914), illustrated by Francis D. Jones, Penn Publishing Company *''Letty at the Conservatory'' (1915) illustrated by Paula B. Himmelsbach, Penn Publishing Company *''Letty's Springtime'' (1916), illustrated by Paula B. Himmelsbach, Penn Publishing Company *''Letty and Miss Grey'' (1917), illustrated by

Paula Himmelsbach Balano Paula or PAULA may refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Paula, in video game '' EarthBound'' * Paula, in ''The Larry Sanders Show'' * Paula Campbell (''EastEnders''), in 2003 Film and television * ''Paula'' (1915 film), a s ...

. Penn Publishing Company. *''Letty Grey - Heiress'' (1918), illustrated by Paula Himmelsbach Balano, Penn Publishing Company *''Her Service Flag: A Play in One Act'' (1918) *''The Knitting Club Meets Or Just Back from France: A Comedy in One Act'' (1918) *''Getting the Range: A War Play in Ome Act'' (1918) *''Letty's New Home'' (1920), illustrated by Francis D. Jones, Penn Publishing Company *''The Over-Alls Club: A Farce in One Act'' (1920), Walter H. Baker & Co. 9781173577186 *''Yes, Virginia!'' *''No, Virginia!'' (1921) *''Why, Virginia'' (1924), illustrated by

Wuanita Smith Wuanita Smith (January 1, 1866 – February 18, 1959) was an American painter, printmaker, and illustrator of children's books. Her work is held in the National Gallery of Art and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Biography Smith was born i ...

*''Louie Maude'' (1924) *''The Roly Poly family'' (1924) *''The Lane'' (1925) Penn Publishing Companh *''The Ladies Strike, A Play for Girls, in One Act'' (1921)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffith, Helen Sherman 1873 births 1961 deaths Writers from Iowa 20th-century American women writers