Sarah Barnwell Elliott
Sarah Barnwell Elliott was an American author and notable figure in the suffragist movement, born in 1848 in Montpelier, Georgia. The daughter of an Episcopal bishop and a founder of the University of the South, she received most of her education through private tutoring, supplemented by some courses at Johns Hopkins University. In 1895, Elliott moved to New York but returned to Sewanee, Tennessee, in 1902, where she lived until her death in 1928. Throughout her literary career, she published several works, including her first novel "The Felmeres" in 1879 and her most acclaimed novel "Jerry," which reflects on the life of a young man from Tennessee. Elliott's writings often incorporated local color, vividly portraying the personalities and culture of the region. In addition to novels, she wrote short stories, poetry, and a biography of Sam Houston, and was active in various periodicals. Her commitment to women's rights was evident in her leadership role as president of the Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association and her historic public speaking engagements. Furthermore, she authored a book on the history of Sewanee, showcasing her deep connection to the area.
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Sarah Barnwell Elliott
Author
- Born: November 29, 1848
- Birthplace: Montpelier, Georgia
- Died: August 30, 1928
- Place of death: Sewanee, Tennessee
Biography
Sarah Barnwell Elliott was born in 1848 in Montpelier, Georgia, the daughter of an Episcopal bishop. Her father was one of the founders of the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. Elliott was educated privately for the most part in her youth, but she attended some courses at Johns Hopkins University. She left the South for New York in 1895 but returned to Sewanee, Tennessee, in 1902, where she remained for the rest of her life. She never married.
Elliott’s first novel, The Felmeres, was published in 1879. Her best-known work is the tragic novel Jerry, about a young man from Tennessee. Elliott also published a collection of short stories, An Incident, and Other Happenings. Her novel, The Durket Sperret, is one of the best examples of Elliott’s use of local color to capture the flavor of personalities in Tennessee.
Elliott wrote numerous poems and a play, and in 1900 she published a biography of Sam Houston. A series of her letters from her European travels was printed later in her life. She also contributed to numerous periodicals.
Heavily involved in the suffragist movement, Elliott was the president of the Tennessee Equal Suffrage Association and was one of the first women to speak before the state’s legislature. She wrote a book about the history of Sewanee, Tennessee, that was published in 1909. She died in 1928.