Guide to the Blanche Willis Howard Papers, 1864-1899

Blanche Willis Howard, a novelist, was born in Bangor, Maine on July 21, 1847, a daughter of Daniel Mosley Howard and Eliza Anne Hudson Howard. Howard attended high school in Bangor, followed by boarding school in New York City. While still a teenager, Howard wrote her first novel,"One Summer," which was published in 1875. Some of Howard's subsequent works were "Aunt Serana"(1881); "Guenn, a Wave on the Breton Coast" (1833); "Aulnay Tower Tower" (1885); "No Heroes" (1893); "Steven on the Highway" (1897); "Dionysius, the Weaver's Heart's Dearest" (1899); and "The Garden of Eden," which was published posthumously in 1900.

In 1875, Howard was sent to Stuttgart, Germany, as European correspondent for the "Boston Transcript," where she also translated various works from German to English, and edited "Hallberger4's Illustrated Magazine" in English. While living in Germany (1875-98), Howard took into her home and chaperoned young American women students.

In the summer of 1890, she married Baron Julius von Teuffel , who was court physician to the King of Wurtemberg, and considered to be one of the most eminent physicians in the German empire. As Baroness von Teuffel, Howard continued to write under her maiden name, Blanche Willis Howard, to the end of her life. The marriage was happy, but childless, although the von Tueffels helped raise several nieces and nephews. In addition to being an author, Howard was also an accomplished pianist, was active in charities, and enjoyed outdoor activity. The marriage was of short duration. Baron von Teuffel died in 1896, and Howard herself died two years later in Munich, Germany, October 7, 1898.

Includes the manuscript and the typescript of "Dionysius, the Weaver's Heart's Dearest;" manuscripts of "One Summer" and "Seven On The Highway;" reviews; family correspondence chiefly about life in Europe (1864-99); a diary (1897); and clippings, including an obituary.