Posted on by Megan Hultberg

A Lover of History: A Bit of Lucy Meacham Thruston’s

Lucy Meacham (Kidd) Thruston was born on March 29th, 1862 in to John Meacham Kidd and Elizabeth Rebecca Adams Kidd, an old Virginia family. Being from Virginia inspired her to write works such as A Girl of Virginia (published in 1902) to which tells a story about a “loveable light spirited daughter of a professor of the University of Virginia” while giving details about the college from the point of view of those who live around it.

From “The Baltimore Sun” May 22, 1907

She moved to Baltimore when she was 12, graduated from Maryland-State Normal School at Towson (not the State Teachers’ College) and taught for a little there. She married her husband Julius Thruston who was from Baltimore on February 14th, 1887, which let’s be honest is so romantic! From a young age, Thruston has claimed to always being a “some-what romantic” and enjoyed writing. Her first publication Songs of the Chesapeake was quickly followed by her most well-known novel Mistress Brent: A Story of Lord Baltimore’s colony in 1638 in 1901, intentionally bringing together history and fiction of Maryland. This publication familiarized her name among not only Baltimoreans, but the country.

Her love and pride of being a Southern woman is seen in her other publications including Jack and His Island: A Boy’s Adventures along the Chesapeake in the War of 1812 1902, Where the Tide Comes In 1904, Called to the Field: A Story of Virginia in the Civil War 1906, and Jenifer in 1907 which takes place in the Carolina mountains. Her love for history of the South can be seen in all her publications, she even says in The Baltimore Sun, “I often feel that history often throws light on the facts of today, and that the present day in turn can throw light on the facts of history”.

In 1915 publication of The Baltimore Sun, she told of her writing short stories and articles in order to spend more time with her family. November 27, 1938 Thruston passed away after a really bad fall, leaving behind her two daughter Miss Augusta Thruston (who she lived with after the death of her husband in 1920) and Mrs. James Miller Leake who moved to Florida. She was a much loved and praised author during her time and years to follow. Although she has been seemingly left in the early 20th, she was much loved and adored for her love of the history and the South.

Posted on by Megan Hultberg

In the Pursuit of Knowledge

With many topics that arise in the minutes and histories of women literary clubs, the theme of culture runs deep. In the minutes of the Woman’s Literary Club of Baltimore from October 7, 1902 the members announced courses offered in art and then played music and sang. The following week, the meeting of October 14, 1902, was much more packed. Not only had a couple members discussed their newly published books, but also current events.

Much attention was paid to what was occurring within the country,  the United State’s impact elsewhere and other countries’ histories. For example there was mention of the Coal Miner’s strike in the US, which then led to conversation about miner strikes in both France and England. Debate over the Panama and Nicaragua Canals, the relationship between the US and President Diaz, and the history of France, Germany and England in that area. Roosevelt, Cuba and the Prince of Siam were also brought up. There is no limitation to the US or Europe, but an intrigue in countries spread across the world.

The women of this era were so interested and invested in being as knowledgeable as possible. Gere makes the point in her novel Intimate Practices that by a woman “acknowledging her own background, she nods toward international travel and the reading of literature as vehicles for achieving the desired cultivation” (182). During these minutes, the President Mrs. J. C. Wrenshall, was abroad. And in the minutes from October 14th after discussion of current events, the conversation returned to the best selling novel of the month and the growth of newspapers. No matter the subject of conversation, these women move around numerous topics, giving thought out and knowledgeable opinions. There is an evident strive to improve themselves individually, but also raise each other up by sharing literature the knowledge.