Born on October 24, 1788, in Newport, New Hampshire, author and editor Sarah Josepha Hale became an influential figure in nineteenth-century American publishing. Educated at home beyond the opportunities available to many women of her generation, she turned to writing to support her family after her husband’s death. In 1837, she became editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, helping shape a publication whose literature, advice, and commentary reached a large national readership. Its circulation rose to approximately 150,000 by 1860.
Hale used her editorial platform to promote women’s education, historic preservation, and a shared national Thanksgiving observance. Beginning in 1846, she pressed her case through editorials and appeals to political leaders. In September 1863, she wrote to President Abraham Lincoln, urging a Thanksgiving celebration held on the same day throughout the country. On October 3, Lincoln issued a proclamation designating the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise, helping establish the national tradition Hale had long championed.
Her accomplishments extended beyond Thanksgiving. She helped raise funds to complete the Bunker Hill Monument and supported efforts to preserve George Washington’s Mount Vernon. She also wrote poetry and books, including the enduring children’s verse “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” These pursuits connected her literary work with a broader commitment to education, public memory, and national culture.
Hale’s legacy reflects both the possibilities and the constraints of women’s public influence in nineteenth-century America. She advocated expanded educational and employment opportunities for women while retaining traditional views of their social and political roles. Through her writing, editorial leadership, and fundraising, she nevertheless demonstrated how a woman outside elected office could help shape the nation’s institutions and traditions.
