Maud Hart Lovelace (April 25, 1892 – March 11, 1980) was an American writer best known for the

Betsy-Tacy The ''Betsy-Tacy ''books are a series of semi-autobiographical novels by American novelist and short-story writer Maud Hart Lovelace (1892-1980), which were originally published between 1940 and 1955 by the Thomas Y. Crowell Co. The books are n ...

series.

Early life

Maud Palmer Hart was born in

Mankato, Minnesota Mankato ( ) is a city in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, Blue Earth, Nicollet County, Minnesota, Nicollet, and Le Sueur County, Minnesota, Le Sueur counties in the state of Minnesota. The population was 44,488 according to the 2020 United States ...

to Tom Hart, a shoe store owner, and his wife, Stella (née Palmer). Maud was the middle child; her sisters were Kathleen (Julia in the Betsy-Tacy books) and Helen (book character, Margaret). Maud reportedly started writing as soon as she could hold a pencil. She wrote in her high school's essay contest during her junior and senior years. She was baptized in a

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

church but joined the Episcopal church as a teenager. She went on to the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tw ...

but took a leave of absence to go to

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

to recover at her maternal grandmother's home from an appendectomy. It was while in California that she made her first short story sale – to the ''

Los Angeles Times Magazine The ''Los Angeles Times Magazine'' (also shortened to just ''LA'') was a monthly magazine which supplemented the Sunday edition of the ''Los Angeles Times'' newspaper on the first Sunday of the month. The magazine focused on stories and photos of ...

''. She returned to the university and worked for the ''

Minnesota Daily The ''Minnesota Daily'' is the campus newspaper of the University of Minnesota, published Monday and Thursday while school is in session, and published weekly on Wednesdays during summer sessions. Published since 1900, the paper is currently the la ...

'', but did not graduate. While spending a year in Europe in 1914, she met Paolo Conte, an Italian musician (who later inspired the character Marco in ''Betsy and the Great World''). Hart married the writer Delos Lovelace when she was 25. Delos and Hart met in April 1917 and were married on Thanksgiving Day the same year. They lived apart until 1919, however, due to Delos' military service in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. Later, the couple divided their time between

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

and

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

(including

Yonkers Yonkers () is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. Developed along the Hudson River, it is the third most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City and Buffalo. The population of Yonkers was 211,569 as enu ...

and

Mount Vernon Mount Vernon is an American landmark and former plantation of Founding Father, commander of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, and the first president of the United States George Washington and his wife, Martha. The estate is on ...

) for several years. After 1928, they lived in New York permanently until their retirement in

Claremont, California Claremont () is a suburban city on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County, California, United States, east of downtown Los Angeles. It is in the Pomona Valley, at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. As of the 2010 census it had a popul ...

. They had one daughter, Merian (later Merian Lovelace Kirchner; January 18, 1931—September 25, 1997), named for Delos's friend

Merian C. Cooper Merian Caldwell Cooper (October 24, 1893 – April 21, 1973) was an American filmmaker and Academy Award winner, as well as a former aviator who served as an officer in the United States Air Force and Polish Air Force. In film, he is credited a ...

who directed the film ''

King Kong King Kong is a fictional giant monster resembling a gorilla, who has appeared in various media since 1933. He has been dubbed The Eighth Wonder of the World, a phrase commonly used within the franchise. His first appearance was in the novelizat ...

'' which was novelized by Delos.

Literary career

Lovelace's first book was ''The Black Angels'', which was published in 1926 and is a

historical novel Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to the past events, but is fictional. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to other ty ...

set in Minnesota. She wrote several more historical novels, including the successful ''Early Candlelight'' (1929). Lovelace is best known for her books for children. The

series started in 1938 after Lovelace told stories about her childhood to her own daughter, Merian. The character Betsy is based on Lovelace herself; Tacy is based on her childhood best friend, Frances "Bick" Kenney. The first book in the series, ''

'', was published in 1940, and the last book, ''

Betsy's Wedding ''Betsy's Wedding'' is a 1990 American romantic comedy film written and directed by Alan Alda. The film stars Alda, Joey Bishop, Madeline Kahn, Catherine O'Hara, Joe Pesci, Ally Sheedy, Bibi Besch, Burt Young, and Molly Ringwald. It was theatr ...

'', was published in 1955. The first four books increase in reading difficulty so that the child can grow up along with Betsy-Tacy. The Betsy-Tacy books take place mostly in the fictional town of Deep Valley, Minnesota, which is based on Mankato. They cover the period from the late 1890s, when Betsy is five years old, until World War One, by which time Betsy is newly married and has recently completed a grand tour of Europe. There are also three loosely connected books set in Deep Valley: ''Winona's Pony Cart'', ''Emily of Deep Valley'' and ''Carney's House Party'', in which Betsy and Tacy have minor roles. The series has been enduringly popular. The city of Mankato declared Betsy-Tacy Day on October 7, 1961.

Death

Lovelace spent her later years in

, where she died in 1980. She is buried in the Glenwood Cemetery in Mankato, with a monument dedicated to her.

Legacy

The Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award was established in 1980. Each year, a group of nominees is chosen in two categories: grades 3–5 and grades 6–8. Children who have read at least three books in the relevant category cast a vote for their favorite. Whoever gets the most votes wins the award and $100.

Bibliography

*''The Black Angels'' (1926) *''Early Candlelight'' (1929) *''Petticoat Court'' (1930) *''The Charming Sally'' (1932) *''One Stayed At Welcome'' (1934, with Delos Lovelace) *''Gentlemen From England'' (1937, with Delos Lovelace) *''The Golden Wedge: Indian Legends of South America'' (1942, with Delos Lovelace) *''The Tune Is In The Tree'' (1950) *''The Trees Kneel At Christmas'' (1951) *''What Cabrillo Found'' (1958) *''The Valentine Box'' (1966)

Betsy-Tacy series

*''

'' (1940) *''

Betsy-Tacy and Tib ''Betsy-Tacy and Tib'' (1941) is the second volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The book, along with the entire ''Betsy-Tacy'' and ''Deep Valley'' series, was republished in 2000 by HarperTrophy with a new cover art illustrate ...

'' (1941) *''

Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill ''Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill'' (1942) is the third volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The book, along with the entire ''Betsy-Tacy'' and ''Deep Valley'' series, was republished in 2000 by HarperTrophy with a new cover ...

'' (1942) *''

Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown ''Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown'' (1943) is the fourth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The book, along with the entire ''Betsy-Tacy'' and ''Deep Valley'' series, was republished in 2000 by HarperTrophy with a new cover art il ...

'' (1943) *''

Heaven to Betsy ''Heaven to Betsy'' (1945) is the fifth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. ''Heaven to Betsy'', describing Betsy's first year in high school, is written for an older age group than the earlier ''Betsy-Tacy'' books. The book, ...

'' (1945) *''

Betsy in Spite of Herself ''Betsy in Spite of Herself'' (1946) is the sixth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The book, along with the entire ''Betsy-Tacy'' and ''Deep Valley'' series, was republished in 2000 by HarperTrophy with a new cover art illus ...

'' (1946) *''

Betsy Was a Junior ''Betsy Was a Junior'' (1947) is the seventh volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The story spans the title character's junior, or eleventh grade, year in high school. The book, along with the entire ''Betsy-Tacy'' and ''Deep Va ...

'' (1947) *''

Betsy and Joe ''Betsy and Joe'' (1948) is the eighth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. This installment spans the title characters' senior, or twelfth grade, year in high school. The book, along with the entire ''Betsy-Tacy'' and ''Deep Va ...

'' (1948) *''

Betsy and the Great World ''Betsy and the Great World'' (1952) is the ninth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series of children's fiction by Maud Hart Lovelace. The book, along with the entire ''Betsy-Tacy'' and ''Deep Valley'' series, was republished in 2000 by HarperTrophy with ...

'' (1952) *''

'' (1955)

Deep Valley series

*''Carney's House Party'' (1949) *''Emily of Deep Valley'' (1950) *''Winona's Pony Cart'' (1953)

Short Stories

*''Auction'' (with Delos W. Lovelace), (ss)

The Country Gentleman ''The Country Gentleman'' (1852–1955) was an American agricultural magazine founded in 1852 in Albany, New York, by Luther Tucker.Frank Luther Mott (1938A History of American Magazines 1850–1865"The Country Gentleman", page 432, Harvard Unive ...

August 2, 1924 *''Borghild’s Clothes'' (with Delos W. Lovelace), (ss) The Modern Priscilla April 1922 *''Carcassonne Flyer'', (ss)

Sunset Magazine ''Sunset'' is a lifestyle magazine in the United States. ''Sunset'' focuses on homes, cooking, gardening, and travel, with a focus almost exclusively on the Western United States. The magazine is published six times per year by the Sunset Publish ...

April 1925 *''Carmelita, Widow'' (with Delos W. Lovelace), (ss)

Catholic World ''The Catholic World'' was a periodical founded by Paulist Father Isaac Thomas Hecker in April 1865. It was published by the Paulist Fathers for over a century. According to Paulist Press, Hecker "wanted to create an intellectual journal for a g ...

October 1924 *''East Wind'' (with Delos W. Lovelace), (ss)

April 26, 1924 *''Land'' (with Delos W. Lovelace), (ss)

Liberty Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom. In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...

August 9, 1924 *''Laughing Tyrant'' (with Delos W. Lovelace), (ss)

March 29, 1924 *''Little White Lamb, The'', (ss)

The Delineator ''The Delineator'' was an American women's magazine of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, founded by the Butterick Publishing Company in 1869 under the name ''The Metropolitan Monthly.'' Its name was changed in 1875. The magazine was publis ...

June 1924 *''Love’s Daily Dozen'', (ss)

August 1925 *''Maid and the Hope Chest, The'', (ss) (with Delos W. Lovelace) Metropolitan Magazine May 1924 *''Neighbors'' (with Delos W. Lovelace), (ss)

September 27, 1924 *''One Day to Live'' (with Delos W. Lovelace), (ss)

October 1925

References

External links

Maud Palmer Hart Lovelace in MNopedia, the Minnesota Encyclopedia

The Betsy-Tacy Society
*
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, from Minnesota Youth Reading AwardsMaud Hart Lovelace at Minnesota Author Biographies ProjectMaud Hart Lovelace History Player in the Classroom, from the Minnesota Historical Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lovelace, Maud Hart 1892 births 1980 deaths University of Minnesota alumni American children's writers Writers from Minnesota People from Mankato, Minnesota Betsy-Tacy People from Claremont, California