Sophia Elizabeth Thoreau (1819–1876) was an American editor. As the sister of

Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817May 6, 1862) was an American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher. A leading Transcendentalism, transcendentalist, he is best known for his book ''Walden'', a reflection upon simple living in natural su ...

and his close collaborator, she was responsible for the posthumous publication of many of his well-known works. Walden Thoreau

Sophia Thoreau was born in

Chelmsford, Massachusetts Chelmsford () is a town in Massachusetts that was established in 1655. It is located northwest of Boston. The Chelmsford militia played a role in the American Revolution at the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill. ...

, on June 24, 1819, the youngest of four children in the Thoreau family. Sophia was an active supporter of abolitionism and various other causes. She was also known as an artist, gardener, naturalist, and teacher. Following the death of her father, John Thoreau, Sophia handled his business interests. After Henry David Thoreau died in 1862, Sophia Thoreau served as the primary editor of his posthumously published works, ''

Excursions An excursion is a trip by a group of people, usually made for leisure, education, or Physical exercise, physical purposes. It is often an adjunct to a longer journey or visit to a place, sometimes for other (typically work-related) purposes. Pu ...

'' (1863), ''The Maine Woods'' (1864), ''Cape Cod'' (1865), and '' A Yankee in Canada'' (1866). She also chose the editor for the publication of Thoreau's journal. Sophia Thoreau's influence on the posthumous publication of Henry David Thoreau's work was often overlooked and attributed instead to

Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson (May 25, 1803April 27, 1882), who went by his middle name Waldo, was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was seen as a champ ...

and

William Ellery Channing William Ellery Channing (April 7, 1780 – October 2, 1842) was the foremost Unitarian preacher in the United States in the early nineteenth century and, along with Andrews Norton (1786–1853), one of Unitarianism's leading theologians. Channi ...

. Sophia Thoreau died in

Bangor, Maine Bangor ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Maine and the county seat of Penobscot County. The city proper has a population of 31,753, making it the state's 3rd-largest settlement, behind Portland (68,408) and Lewiston (37,121). Modern Bangor ...

, on October 7, 1876. A daguerreotype of Sophia Thoreau dating to 1855 has been held by the

Concord Museum The Concord Museum is a museum of local history located at 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord, Massachusetts, United States, and best known for its collection of artifacts from authors Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Updated hours are ...

since 2017.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thoreau, Sophia Henry David Thoreau 1819 births 1876 deaths 19th-century American women artists People from Chelmsford, Massachusetts American book editors Women print editors Women naturalists American naturalists American abolitionists