Whitney Adeline Dutton Train
Born in September 15, 1824 / Died in March 20, 1906 / United States / English
Biography
Other info : Bibliography
Adeline Dutton Train Whitney was an American poet and prolific writer, publishing more than 20 books for girls. Her books expressed a traditional view of women's roles and were popular throughout her life
Whitney was born Adeline Dutton Train in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Enoch Train and Adeline Train (née Dutton). Her father founded a line of packet ships that sailed between Boston and Liverpool, a major port of trade and emigration.
Adeline was educated at private schools; she studied at the school of George B. Emerson in Boston from 1837 to 1842. Her cousin George Francis Train was a successful entrepreneur, a founder of the Union Pacific Railroad, and an adventurer, making three round-the-world trips.
On 7 November 1843, Adeline at the age of 19 married Seth Dunbar Whitney, a wealthy merchant who was twenty years older than she. They lived in Milton, where they raised their family.
Adeline Whitney started writing seriously in her thirties, after her children started school. She first published poems and stories in local journals. In 1859, she published her first book, Mother Goose for Grown Folks. She wrote mainly for young girls and supported conservative values. She promoted the message of the era that a woman's happiest place is in the home, the source of all goodness. As this was popular among parents, her books sold extremely well throughout her life.
Whitney privately opposed women's suffrage, and took no part in public life (in accordance with the traditional approach for women expressed in her books.) She patented a set of alphabet blocks for children.
She died in Milton at the age of eighty-one.
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