Josephine Bouton Bleecker 
Collection, ca. 1911-1990

SC23603

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Biographical Note:

Josephine Bouton Bleecker was born in Sherburne, Chenango County, New York, on August 3, 1898, to Dr. Eugene Bouton (1850-1951) and Elizabeth Rumrill Gladwin (1865-1960). She had three older siblings: Katharine (1889-1984), Gladwin (1891-1960), and Elizabeth (1893-1990). The family moved several times in Josephine’s youth. She graduated from Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, New Jersey, in 1917; she then attended but did not graduate from Teachers College, Columbia University.

In the early 1920s Josephine moved to New York City, eventually becoming secretary and assistant to Carolyn Sherwin Bailey who was then editor of American Childhood magazine and who would go on to be awarded the 1947 Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature for her book Miss Hickory. Josephine later became the poetry editor of the magazine.

In 1927, the Milton Bradley Company published Poems for the Children’s Hour, a collection of poems Josephine compiled; the foreword was written by Carolyn. That same year Carolyn sponsored Josephine for membership in the Pen and Brush, an organization founded in 1894 to bring together creative women for mutual support and advancement.

Josephine married William Augustus “Bill” Bleecker on September 16, 1927, at the Church of the Transfiguration (Little Church Around the Corner) in New York City. The couple remained for a time in New York City then travelled for Bill’s work, eventually settling in Florida sometime in the mid-1960s. They were married for 54 years until Bill’s death in 1981.

During World War II, Josephine began a small business selling handmade items such as sunbonnets, bags, and aprons to several New York City department stores including Hammacher Schlemmer, Gimbel’s, and Lord and Taylor. This venture ended about the same time as the war but Josephine continued to be involved in small-craft enterprises throughout her life, most notably Bleecker Miniatures, a doll-making company she ran with her husband.

Josephine passed away on April 22, 1995, at the age of 96.

Though primarily known for compiling Poems for the Children’s Hour, Josephine wrote throughout her life. Poems, short stories and essays penned by her were printed in a variety of publications, including The New York Sun, Vogue magazine, American Home magazine, and The Christian Science Monitor. She also wrote several longer, autobiographical novellas which were never published.

Scope and Content Note:

This collection contains writings, published and not, as well as other papers, correspondence, clippings, pamphlets, patterns, sheet music, and photographs. Three unpublished autobiographical novellas – “Trade Entrance,” “The Superintendant’s [Superintendent’s] Daughter,” and “Working Girl” – and one fictional short story – “Mrs. Frisky Longtail” – make up the bulk of Josephine’s writing. Also included are two unpublished collections of her poetry, clippings of her published poems and short works, unpublished poems and short works, notes and ideas pertaining to existing writing and unwritten works, and two interviews conducted by Josephine – one with Lillian Leitzel (1892-1931), a circus aerialist, and one with writer and editor E.V. Lucas (1865-1938). There is also a short journal kept by Josephine during a 1925 five-week trip to Europe organized by the University Travel-Study Club of Albany, Albany County, New York.

Some of the writings Josephine collected were authored by family members, including a short story by Josephine’s mother, Elizabeth Gladwin Bouton, and a genealogical history of her husband William A. Bleecker’s family written by her mother-in-law, Emily R. Olssen Bleecker.

This collection also contains materials relating to Josephine’s membership (1927-1995) in the Pen and Brush, including bulletins and calendars; a 70th anniversary brochure (1963), and Josephine’s remembrance of Ida M. Tarbell for the organization’s memorial for Ms. Tarbell, longtime president of the Pen and Brush. There also are two photographs of Ms. Tarbell in the collection which were contributed by Josephine for the memorial.

The correspondence in the collection contains letters from Josephine’s family, friends, and several literary agents and publishers, including a large amount of correspondence with publisher Platt & Munk Company concerning the fourth edition of Josephine’s book, Favorite Poems for the Children’s Hour. Josephine corresponded regularly (ca. 1933-1974) with artist and designer Lydia Bush-Brown Head (1887-1984). Josephine also received several letters and newsletters (1975-1988, n.d.) from Dudley Frasure (1912-1992), a basket maker based in Sherburne, New York, who made Adirondack pack baskets.

Other items in the collection are sewing patterns, mostly for bags, some of which were created by Josephine, and some correspondence and records related to her small-bag business; and several photographs, including two autographed photographs of Alfredo Codona (1893-1937), husband of Lillian Leitzel, and two portraits of Mrs. Eleanor Fellowes (1891-?), wife of Air Commodore Peregrine F. M. Fellowes, expedition leader of the first flight over the summit of Mt. Everest (1933).

This collection may be of interest to those studying mid-twentieth-century women’s history, small entrepreneurial ventures, and publishing.

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