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Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Margaret Prescott Montague, Author, Letters, A&M 2218, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Margaret Prescott Montague (1978-1955) was an American short story writer and novelist in the early twentieth century; she penned some of her work under the pseudonym Jane Steger. Montague was born in White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia, on November 29, 1878. In 1919 she won the O'Henry Award for her story "England to America," which had been published in the Atlantic Monthly in September 1918. In addition to publishing stories in the Atlantic Monthly and Harper's , Montague also published novels with Houghton Mifflin Company and the Baker & Taylor Company. Some of her other works include "Why It Was W-On-The-Eyes" (1913), "The Will to Go" (1913), The Sowing of Alderson Cree (1907), Closed Doors: Studies of Deaf and Blind Children (1915), Of Water and the Spirit (1916), England to America (1920), and Up Eel River (1928). She also published Leaves from a Secret Journal as Jane Steger in 1926. Several of her books were made into movies. Margaret Prescott Montague died in September 1955.

Scope and Contents

Margaret Prescott Montague (1878-1955) of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and Richmond, Virginia, was an American short story writer, novelist, and O. Henry Award winner in the early twentieth century; she penned some of her work under the pseudonym Jane Steger. Approximately thirty letters written by Montague to her friend Maggie McGee document Montague's personal life and literary career. Three letters at the beginning of the collection indicate how the friendship began, when McGee discovered that Montague was the writer behind the pseudonym Jane Steger. The other letters contain information about Montague's family life, philosophical and religious beliefs, interest in music, trips to White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia, literary efforts, and political and social activity, including her work with blind and deaf children. Collection also contains several short poems, a dialogue, and an essay penned by Margaret Montague.

Related Material

582, 1110, 1348, 2218

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Authors, American -- 20th Century
• Authors, American -- West Virginia
• Literature - WV.
• Montague, Margaret Prescott, 1878-1955
• White Sulphur Springs (W. Va.)
• Women -- West Virginia -- Social life and customs
• Women authors, American -- 20th century
• Women authors, American -- West Virginia -- 20th century
• Women novelists, American -- 20th century