Mary Louis Booth

Our surrounding area is so rich in history. We have a signer of the Declaration of Independence ,we have spies from the Revolutionary War,we have famous Artists ; but did you know we have a woman who was the first editor of Harpers Bizarre and a translator during the Civil War who was recognized for her accomplishments  by Abraham Lincoln?

Mary Louis Booth was born in Yaphank April 19, 1831. Yaphank was known as Millvill  at that time. Her house still stands and is located at East Main Street, Yaphank, NY. A historical marker is planted at the house with an inscription that reads

MARY LOUISE BOOTH

GIRLHOOD HOME

HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF

HISTORIC PLACES IN 2015

BY THE UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2015

Mary Louise Booth was not only the first editor of Harpers Bizarre, she also wrote articles for the New York Times .  She was a translator, a seamsress, a suffragette, an Abolitionist and became one of the highest paid females in the country after many years of hardly earning any wages at all.

Ms. Booth received praise and letters from Abraham Lincoln for her fine work translating during the Civil War. She translated “ Uprising of a Great People ”from French to English. The book served to encourage Unionists and boost moral. 

After intense research and receiving letters from famous New Yorkers including Washington Irving ,she finished ”History of New York” in 1859. The book was so well received, she was assigned to go to Europe and write histories of different European cities. However, but the Civil War changed everything .

Ms. Booth was a suffragette and befriended Susan B Anthony and made Harpers Bazaar the first main stream magazine to endorse suffrage in the July 12, 1869 issue.

I have only skimmed the surface of this remarkable, truly remarkable woman who grew up right here in our neighborhood. I encourage you to Google the name because you’ll read some fascinating stories.

Kathleen