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Molly Elliot Seawell Letters, 1888-1912. Accession 23830n. Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Purchased, 20 May 1952, from Aldine Book Company, Brooklyn, New York.
Molly Elliot Seawell was born 12 October 1860 in Gloucester County, Virginia. While her formal education was sporadic, Seawell read the wide collection of works in her parents' library. After the death of her father, Seawell moved first to Norfolk, Virginia, then to Washington D.C. where she became a writer. Seawell supported her mother and her sister on the income she earned from her articles and books. Her works ranged from juvenile literature to political satire and she wrote 36 books and several articles. Some of her most popular works were naval adventures. Seawell's most successful novels were The History of the Lady Betty Stair , Throckmorton , A Virginia Cavalier , The House of Egremont , and The Whirl . Seawell was also an active anti-suffragette, writing The Ladies Battle to argue women weren't able to actively participate at the ballot box. Seawell conducted a popular salon for writers and artists in her Washington D.C. home located near Dupont Circle. She died 15 November 1916 in Washington D.C.
Letters, 1888-1912, of Molly Elliot Seawell (1860-1916) of Gloucester County, Virginia, and Washington D.C., consisting of letters, 1888-1893[?], to her literary agent, Mr. Stoddard, concerning The Berkeleys and Their Neighbors and discussing her attempts to sell The History of the Lady Betty Stair ; letters, 1900, regarding writing The House of Egremont , its serial rights, and a portion of a typescript of the book; letter, 4 April 1902, concerning the publication of a short-story; letter, 22 December 1912, concerning the publication of "The Show Girl;" and biographical sketches of Molly Elliot Seawell.
Molly Elliot Seawell Letter, 12 February 1891 (LVA accession 32006).