Sophia Louise Little

Sophia Louise[lower-alpha 1] Little (née Robbins; 1799–1893) was an American poet and abolitionist.

Life

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]

Works

Little, besides contributing frequently to various periodicals, published the following poems:

  • "The Last Days of Jesus " (Boston, 1839);
  • "The Annunciation and Birth of Jesus, and the Resurrection" (1843);
  • "Pentecost" (1873).

In 1877 a complete edition of her religious poems was published at Newport, bearing the title, Last Days of Jesus, and Other Poems.[5]

Notes

  1. The middle name is sometimes given as "Louisa", and frequently abbreviated to the initial "L."[1]

References

  1. Ockerbloom, ed. n.d.
  2. Wilson; Fiske, eds. 1888, p. 738.
  3. Van Broekhoven 2000.
  4. Wilson; Fiske, eds. 1888, p. 739.
  5. Wilson; Fiske, eds. 1888, pp. 738–739.

Sources

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