The Write Sisters' Indirect Connection to John Greenleaf Whittier

The great Quaker abolitionist and poet, John Greenleaf Whittier, was born not too far from us in Haverhill, Massachustts.

Yesterday, three of the Write Sisters, went to the birthplace of Whittier to attend the 125th annual summer meeting of the Whittier Club. On the occasion of this meeting, Lisa Greenleaf, a descendant of Mr. Whittier, spoke about a book she is illustrating--The Barefoot Boy, based on JGW's poem of the same name. Lisa also happens to be the book designer/illustrator for Apprentice Shop Books, our publisher.

Lisa started off with a little introduction to herself, her work, and how she had been searching for years for a way to honor her famous ancestor.

Lisa reads from her first book, My Family and Bingo, written in the third grade!


Lisa is a rather animated speaker!


Here is Lisa showing the group her The Barefoot Boy dummy (the book in sketch stage).

Lisa told her audience that she'd like to finish the book by September--she neglected to say that she is delusional! It will get done and we know it will be beautiful. (The book is scheduled to be published by Apprentice Shop Books and will also include biographical information about John Greenleaf Whittier.)


Lisa's proud parents!

The Whittier homestead is a fascinating place. We learned that it is the oldest museum in the U.S. devoted to a literary person! We hope to visit it again when the weather is nicer, today it was cool and rainy, so that we can get an idea of what it was like when the original barefoot boy roamed the hills and fields around his home in Haverhill.


Here's a photo of the participants at one of the first
Whittier Club summer meetings back in the late 1800s.

Note: if you came looking for "Mentor Monday," please come again next week when "Mentor Monday" will return.

--Muriel, Diane, and Kathy