Sophia Louise [a] Little ( née Robbins; 1799–1893) was an American poet and abolitionist.
Sophia Louise Robbins was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 22, 1799. [2] She was the second daughter of Asher Robbins, a United States Senator from Rhode Island. [2] She was educated in her native town, and in 1834 married William Little, Jr., of Boston, who assisted her by his criticism in the development of her poetic talent. [2] Her first poem of any length, a description of a New England Thanksgiving, was printed in 1838 in The Token. [2]
Sophia Little took an active interest in the anti-slavery movement, and was a life-long friend of William Lloyd Garrison, being present at the Boston meeting, at which he was mobbed. [2] She was also president of the Prisoner's Aid Association of Rhode Island from its formation. [2] With the aid of friends, she opened a free reading room for working people in Newport, which proved to be the germ of a free public library. [2] She also established a Holly-tree coffee-house, and was still active in many charitable enterprises in 1887. [2]
Little died in 1893. [3] Her son, Robbins Little, became a lawyer and librarian. [4]
Little, besides contributing frequently to various periodicals, published the following poems:
In 1877 a complete edition of her religious poems was published at Newport, bearing the title, Last Days of Jesus, and Other Poems. [5]
Attribution:
Sophia Louise [a] Little ( née Robbins; 1799–1893) was an American poet and abolitionist.
Sophia Louise Robbins was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on August 22, 1799. [2] She was the second daughter of Asher Robbins, a United States Senator from Rhode Island. [2] She was educated in her native town, and in 1834 married William Little, Jr., of Boston, who assisted her by his criticism in the development of her poetic talent. [2] Her first poem of any length, a description of a New England Thanksgiving, was printed in 1838 in The Token. [2]
Sophia Little took an active interest in the anti-slavery movement, and was a life-long friend of William Lloyd Garrison, being present at the Boston meeting, at which he was mobbed. [2] She was also president of the Prisoner's Aid Association of Rhode Island from its formation. [2] With the aid of friends, she opened a free reading room for working people in Newport, which proved to be the germ of a free public library. [2] She also established a Holly-tree coffee-house, and was still active in many charitable enterprises in 1887. [2]
Little died in 1893. [3] Her son, Robbins Little, became a lawyer and librarian. [4]
Little, besides contributing frequently to various periodicals, published the following poems:
In 1877 a complete edition of her religious poems was published at Newport, bearing the title, Last Days of Jesus, and Other Poems. [5]
Attribution: