Bess streeter aldrich biography samples

  • The Bess Streeter Aldrich Reader (1950) This collection includes the novels A Lantern in Her Hand, A White Bird Flying, and five short stories.
  • A collection of novels and short stories by Bess Streeter Aldrich and her biography by Carol Miles Petersen are available from the University of Nebraska Press.
  • A novel unit designed for teachers by teachers to explore the classic story of a pioneer woman by Nebraska author.

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    A Lantern In Her Hand

    A Novel Unit Designed for Teachers by Teachers
    To Explore the Classic Story of a Pioneer Woman
    by Nebraska Author Bess Streeter Aldrich

    Development Team

    Kim Zach, Team Leader; Gretchen Garrison; Sheri Harrington
    Jeanne Hightower; Karen Schmidt; Marla Teegerstrom

    This project was made possible through grants from:
    Syracuse Library Foundation & Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation

    Welcome

    On behalf of the Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation, we welcome you as a potential user of the Novel Unit of Study for A Lantern in Her Hand, the classic story of a Nebraska pioneer woman. With assistance of grant funding from the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation and the Syracuse Library Foundation, we have brought together six professionals to develop this resource for teachers in public, private, and home schools.

    First and foremost, the materials are free. If you'd like to use them, simply email the director about your interest. You'll

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    Book List

    Many of Mrs. Aldrich's book are still in print and the Aldrich House has many vintage copies for sale, too. Contact the Director at aldrichfoundation@gmail.com to check on availability and prices.

    • A Lantern in Her Hand

      A Lantern in Her Hand (1928) In this classic story of a pioneer woman, Bess Streeter Aldrich modeled protagonist Abbie Deal after her own mother. In this book, Abbie accompanies her family to Iowa. She marries, and in 1865 moves with husband Will to the soon-to-be-state of Nebraska. She settles into her own sod house. The novel describes Abbie's years of child-raising and of making a frontier home able to withstand every adversity. Refusing to be broken bygd hard experiences, Abbie sets a joyful example for her family, and her readers.

    • The Rim of the Prairie

      The Rim of the Prairie (1925) This fryst vatten the story of Nancy Moore and how she returned for a "last visit" to the farm of Uncle Jed and Aunt Biny, where she had been raised. Naturally viv

    • bess streeter aldrich biography samples

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      A footnote from history by Stephanie Grace Whitson

      Biography of Bess Streeter Aldrich
      "You like to read? You should read my neighbor's books!" 

      I was a newcomer to Lincoln, Nebraska, helping with a church chili supper when those words introduced me to Bess Streeter Aldrich, who was to become my favorite storyteller. 

      "Who's your neighbor?" I asked.

      "Her name was Bess Streeter Aldrich, and I just know you'll love her stories."

      And I did. Personal favorites among her nine novels include Mother Mason (about a young mother just looking to escape for a day), The Cutters (about a young family), Miss Bishop (about a single school teacher who models the concept of servanthood), and A Lantern in Her Hand (about pioneers making a home). 

      Little did I know at the time I first heard her name that Mrs. Aldrich's life would become a personal encouragement to me. Her four children ranged in age from 4 to 16 when Mrs. Aldrich's husband died suddenly. She'