Helen Hunt Jackson

Date of Birth: October 15, 1830

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: August 12, 1885

Biography

Helen Hunt Jackson was an American writer and activist born on October 15, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts. She is best known for her works that focus on the plight of Native Americans. Jackson’s early education was conducted at home by her father, Nathan Welby Fiske, who was a professor of Latin and Greek at Amherst College. Following the death of her parents, she attended the Ipswich Female Seminary and the Abbott Institute, a boarding school in New York City. Her writing career began after the death of her first husband, Captain Edward Bissell Hunt, in 1863. She started publishing poetry and short stories under the pen name “H.H.” and gained recognition for her literary skills. In 1875, she married William Sharpless Jackson, a wealthy banker and railroad executive. Helen Hunt Jackson is most renowned for her activism on behalf of Native American rights. Her 1881 book, “A Century of Dishonor,” exposed the injustices faced by Native Americans and led to widespread public awareness. Her novel “Ramona,” published in 1884, further highlighted these issues through a romanticized narrative that became a bestseller. Jackson’s advocacy significantly influenced U.S. policy and public opinion regarding Native American affairs. She passed away on August 12, 1885, in San Francisco, California, but her legacy as a passionate advocate for justice and a talented writer endures.

5 Interesting Facts about Helen Hunt Jackson

1. Helen Hunt Jackson’s book “A Century of Dishonor” was sent to every member of Congress to raise awareness about the mistreatment of Native Americans.

2. Her novel “Ramona” has never been out of print since its publication in 1884 and has been adapted into multiple films and stage productions.

3. Jackson was a close friend of Emily Dickinson, the famous poet, and they exchanged many letters.

4. She traveled extensively throughout the American West, gathering firsthand accounts of Native American experiences.

5. Jackson was inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame in 1985, recognizing her contributions to literature and social justice.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Helen Hunt Jackson

1. “The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

2. “It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision.”

3. “Oh, write of me, not ‘Died in bitter pains,’ but ‘Emigrated to another star!’”

4. “My creed is this: Happiness is the only good. The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to make others so.”

5. “Injustice boils in men’s hearts as does steel in its cauldron, ready to pour forth, white hot, in the fullness of time.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Helen Hunt Jackson’s net worth is not well-documented, but she was financially secure due to her second husband’s success as a banker and railroad executive.