Hall family papers (RLC.Ms.012)

Biographical Note

Henry Marion Hall (1877-) was a writer and outdoorsman in the early twentieth century. He was the grandson of Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910), suffragette and composer of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and nephew of Maud Howe Elliot (1854-1948). He married Alice Louise Haskell, and was the father of three daughters; Julia Ward Howe Stickley, Frances Minturn Howard, and Rosalys Haskell Hall.

Rosalys Haskell Hall (1914-2006) was born March 27, 1914, and was often referred to as Posey. She was a direct descendent of Roger Williams (1603-1683), the theologian who founded the state of Rhode Island. Rosalys was an accomplished author of children’s books, writing more than seventeen in her lifetime, many of which were illustrated by the famous German artist, Kurt Werth (1896-1983). Rosalys worked for Doubleday Bookshop from 1938-1944 as a children’s book seller. Afterwards, she worked as the editor in the children’s book department at Longman’s, Green & Company (now known as David McKay Co., Inc.). Her summer home was on Coddington Street in Newport, Rhode Island and she served as a member of the Point Association, as well as the Redwood Library and Athenaeum. She died on April 17, 2006, at the age of 92.

Frances Minturn Howard (1905-1995) was most known for her poetry and newspaper columns. She corresponded with May Sarton (1912-1995) the poet, novelist and memoirist, and also knew Sylvia Plath (1932-1963). She was married to Thomas Clark Howard and lived in Boston, but still maintained a summer house on Rhode Island Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island.

Julia Ward Howe Stickley (1903-1983) was the sister of Rosalys Haskell Hall and Frances Minturn Howard. She married Captain Douglas Stickley in 1923, in New York, NY and the couple had two children: Douglas Penn Stickley, Jr. and Hester Marion Stickley. Julia was also an accomplished author, assisting in the writing of children’s books with Rosalys, but also publishing her own articles.