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| image_size =
| image_size =
| caption = Atkinson in ''The New Student's Reference Work''
| caption = Atkinson in ''The New Student's Reference Work''
| birth_date = {{birth year|1863}}
| birth_date = {{birth date text|1863}}
| birth_place = [[Rensselaer, Indiana]], [[United States]]
| birth_place = [[Rensselaer, Indiana]], [[United States]]
| birth_name = Eleanor Stackhouse
| birth_name = Eleanor Stackhouse
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| known_for =
| known_for =
| notable works = ''[[Greyfriars Bobby (novel)|Greyfriars Bobby]]'' (1912 novel)
| notable works = ''[[Greyfriars Bobby (novel)|Greyfriars Bobby]]'' (1912 novel)
| occupation = author, journalist, teacher
| occupation = Author, journalist, teacher
| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Francis Blake Atkinson]]|1890|}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Francis Blake Atkinson|1890|}}
| children = two daughters: Dorothy, Frances
| children = two daughters: Dorothy, Frances
}}
}}
'''Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson''' (1863 – November 4, 1942)<ref name="Kunitz1955">{{cite book|author=Stanley Kunitz|title=Twentieth Century Authors: A Biographical Dictionary of Modern Literature. Supplement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d9_TAAAAMAAJ|year=1955|publisher=H. W. Wilson|page=32}}</ref> was an American [[writer]], [[journalist]] and [[teacher]].
'''Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson''' (1863 – November 4, 1942)<ref name="Kunitz1955">{{cite book|author=Stanley Kunitz|title=Twentieth Century Authors: A Biographical Dictionary of Modern Literature. Supplement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d9_TAAAAMAAJ|year=1955|publisher=H. W. Wilson|page=32}}</ref> was an American [[writer]], [[journalist]] and [[teacher]].


==Early years==
==Marriage==
She was born Eleanor Stackhouse in [[Rensselaer, Indiana]], and later married [[Francis Blake Atkinson]], himself also an author—the couple had children Dorothy Blake (b. 1892) and Frances Eleanor (b. 1899).<ref name="Leonard1914"/>
Born Eleanor Stackhouse in [[Rensselaer, Indiana]], she later married Francis Blake Atkinson, also an author. The couple had two daughters, Dorothy Blake (b. 1892) and Frances Eleanor (b. 1899).<ref name="Leonard1914"/>


==Career==
==Career==
She taught in schools in both [[Indianapolis]] and [[Chicago]]. She wrote for the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' as a [[stunt girl]] reporter under the [[pseudonym]] "Nora Marks" from 1888 to 1890,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Todd |first=Kim |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1244546167 |title=Sensational : the hidden history of America's "girl stunt reporters" |date=2021 |isbn=978-0-06-284361-6 |edition= |location=New York, NY |oclc=1244546167 |author-link=Kim Todd | page=61}}</ref> and later became publisher of the [[Little Chronicle Publishing Company]], Chicago; this published several of her own works, along with other educational books and the ''Little Chronicle'', an [[illustrated newspaper]] intended for young children.
She taught in schools in both [[Indianapolis]] and [[Chicago]]. She wrote for the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' as a [[stunt girl]] reporter under the [[pseudonym]] "Nora Marks" from 1888 to 1890,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Todd |first=Kim |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1244546167 |title=Sensational : the hidden history of America's "girl stunt reporters" |date=2021 |isbn=978-0-06-284361-6 |edition= |location=New York, NY |oclc=1244546167 |author-link=Kim Todd | page=61}}</ref> and later became publisher of the [[Little Chronicle Publishing Company]], Chicago; this published several of her own works, along with other educational books and the ''Little Chronicle'', an [[illustrated newspaper]] intended for young children.


While she wrote both fiction and non-fiction, the former mostly romances and the latter mostly educational books, she is best known for her 1912 novel ''[[Greyfriars Bobby (novel)|Greyfriars Bobby]]''. This popular work recounted the famous story of [[Greyfriars Bobby|the eponymous dog]]; most of the modern versions of the story seem to stem from her form of the tale. Many details of the book, especially those regarding the dog's master are inaccurate; until recently it was assumed that she had no opportunity for original research of her setting. It seems likely that she worked from the basic story and embellished it from her own imagination. The story, however, ''is'' lovingly detailed; the descriptions of the geography may be somewhat confused, but effort was clearly made to get names correct, and to get across the atmosphere of the city. Unusually for someone with no connection to the country, her portrayal of the local accent was convincing and strongly phrased; this suggests it is possible she picked up the story directly from Scottish immigrants to the Midwest.
While she wrote both fiction and non-fiction, the former mostly romances and the latter mostly educational books, she is best known for her 1912 novel ''[[Greyfriars Bobby (novel)|Greyfriars Bobby]]''. This popular work recounted the famous story of [[Greyfriars Bobby|the eponymous dog]]; most of the modern versions of the story seem to stem from her form of the tale. Many details of the book, especially those regarding the dog's master are inaccurate; until recently it was assumed that she had no opportunity for original research of her setting. It seems likely that she worked from the basic story and embellished it from her own imagination. The story, however, ''is'' lovingly detailed; the descriptions of the geography may be somewhat confused, but effort was clearly made to get names correct, and to get across the atmosphere of the city. Unusually for someone with no connection to the country, her portrayal of the local accent was convincing and strongly phrased; this suggests it is possible she picked up the story directly from Scottish immigrants to the Midwest.
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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
{{Unreferenced section |date=March 2024}}
Blake's daughter, [[Eleanor Blake]], wrote a detective novel, ''[[Death Down East]]'' (1942). Her son, Atkinson's grandson, was the movie and television actor [[Wally Cox]]. Her husband Francis Atkinson was a fellow newspaperman and opened The Little Chronicle along with her.
Blake's daughter, Eleanor Blake, wrote a detective novel, ''Death Down East'' (1942). Her son, Atkinson's grandson, was the movie and television actor [[Wally Cox]]. Her husband Francis Atkinson was a fellow newspaperman and opened The Little Chronicle Publishing Company with her.


==Selected works==
==Selected works==
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[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:American women novelists]]
[[Category:American women novelists]]
[[Category:American women journalists]]
[[Category:20th-century American women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women writers]]
[[Category:19th-century American women writers]]
[[Category:19th-century American women journalists]]
[[Category:People from Rensselaer, Indiana]]
[[Category:People from Rensselaer, Indiana]]
[[Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers]]

Latest revision as of 05:12, 1 April 2024

Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson
Atkinson in The New Student's Reference Work
Born
Eleanor Stackhouse

1863 (1863)
Rensselaer, Indiana, United States
DiedNovember 4, 1942 (aged 78–79)
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Author, journalist, teacher
Notable workGreyfriars Bobby (1912 novel)
Spouse
Francis Blake Atkinson
​
​
(m. 1890)​
Childrentwo daughters: Dorothy, Frances

Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson (1863 – November 4, 1942)[1] was an American writer, journalist and teacher.

Marriage[edit]

Born Eleanor Stackhouse in Rensselaer, Indiana, she later married Francis Blake Atkinson, also an author. The couple had two daughters, Dorothy Blake (b. 1892) and Frances Eleanor (b. 1899).[2]

Career[edit]

She taught in schools in both Indianapolis and Chicago. She wrote for the Chicago Tribune as a stunt girl reporter under the pseudonym "Nora Marks" from 1888 to 1890,[3] and later became publisher of the Little Chronicle Publishing Company, Chicago; this published several of her own works, along with other educational books and the Little Chronicle, an illustrated newspaper intended for young children.

While she wrote both fiction and non-fiction, the former mostly romances and the latter mostly educational books, she is best known for her 1912 novel Greyfriars Bobby. This popular work recounted the famous story of the eponymous dog; most of the modern versions of the story seem to stem from her form of the tale. Many details of the book, especially those regarding the dog's master are inaccurate; until recently it was assumed that she had no opportunity for original research of her setting. It seems likely that she worked from the basic story and embellished it from her own imagination. The story, however, is lovingly detailed; the descriptions of the geography may be somewhat confused, but effort was clearly made to get names correct, and to get across the atmosphere of the city. Unusually for someone with no connection to the country, her portrayal of the local accent was convincing and strongly phrased; this suggests it is possible she picked up the story directly from Scottish immigrants to the Midwest.

"I wullna gang to the infairmary. It's juist for puir toon bodies that are aye ailin' an' deein'." Fright and resentment lent the silent old man an astonishing eloquence for the moment. "Ye wadna gang to the infairmary yer ainsel', an' tak' charity."

The book is often considered a classic, especially for children, and has been reprinted several times; it was the basis for the films Challenge to Lassie (MGM, 1949)[4] and Greyfriars Bobby (Disney, 1961),[5] although both of these postdated her death. Both films starred Donald Crisp.

Personal life[edit]

Blake's daughter, Eleanor Blake, wrote a detective novel, Death Down East (1942). Her son, Atkinson's grandson, was the movie and television actor Wally Cox. Her husband Francis Atkinson was a fellow newspaperman and opened The Little Chronicle Publishing Company with her.

Selected works[edit]

  • Mamzelle Fifine : A Romance of the Girlhood of the Empress Josephine on the Island of Martinique (1903)
  • Boyhood of Lincoln (1908) (also published as Lincoln's Love Story)
  • Story of Chicago and National Development, 1534-1910. (1910)
  • New Student's Reference Work for Teachers, Students and Families (1911)
  • Greyfriar's Bobby (1912)
  • Loyal Love (1912)
  • Johnny Appleseed: The Romance of the Sower (1915)
  • Pictured Knowledge; Visual Instruction Practically Applied for the Home and School (1916)
  • Hearts Undaunted : A Romance of Four Frontiers (1917)
  • "Poilu," a Dog of Roubaix. (1918)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Stanley Kunitz (1955). Twentieth Century Authors: A Biographical Dictionary of Modern Literature. Supplement. H. W. Wilson. p. 32.
  2. ^ Leonard, John William, ed. (1914), Woman's Who's Who of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Women of the United States and Canada, 1914–1915, New York: American Commonwealth Company, p. 59.
  3. ^ Todd, Kim (2021). Sensational : the hidden history of America's "girl stunt reporters". New York, NY. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-06-284361-6. OCLC 1244546167.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ Challenge to Lassie (1949): IMDB.com website. Retrieved on January 23, 2008.
  5. ^ Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog (1961): IMDB.com website. Retrieved on January 23, 2008.

External links[edit]

Wikisource has original works by or about:
Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson
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