Author

Helen Ridgely was a prolific writer throughout her lifetime, authoring voluminous correspondence, diaries, literary and art criticism, personal and historical essays, lectures, and published works. Her interest in history and talent for writing led her to produce two books: The Old Brick Churches of Maryland in 1894 and Historic Graves of Maryland and the District of Columbia in 1908. Helen faced adversity in attempts to publish her first book, receiving rejection letters from editors. Little did they realize the importance of her work, for both her books are still widely consulted and available in reprint today.

 

Literary Journal written by Helen, 1877-1887 (HAMP 16700)

NPS

Despite being a busy young mother of three with numerous responsibilities, Helen found time to write learned and insightful essays of literary criticism and analysis such as this text on Emerson written in 1877. In this journal, Helen discusses the works of a number of leading 19^th century writers.

 

Typewriter used by Helen, c. 1905 (HAMP 9832) (left)
Photographic print of Helen, c. 1895 (HAMP 20337) (right)

NPS

Helen Ridgely was eager to embrace advances in technology when it came to mechanical devices, using a typewriter as early as the 1890s. Her first typewriter appears to the right in the background of this photograph of Helen at her writing table. This Underwood Standard No. 5 was probably the second model she acquired. She typed the manuscript to her second major published work, Historic Graves of Maryland and the District of Columbia on this typewriter.

 

Book, The Old Brick Churches of Maryland, 1894 (HAMP 4999)

NPS

In 1894 Helen published her first book entitled The Old Brick Churches of Maryland. With illustrations done by Helen’s cousin Sophie Stewart, the book describes the buildings and documents their history, thereby preserving a precious niche of Maryland history. Helen and Sophie traveled across the state to remote churches and ruins in order to document the sites and conduct research for the book.

 

Manuscript, 1892-1894 (HAMP 6818)

NPS

Helen Ridgely’s manuscript for The Old Brick Churches of Maryland showcases the effort that went into editing and revising the work prior to publication.

 

Book, Historic Graves of Maryland and District of Columbia, 1908 (HAMP 4800)

NPS

Historic Graves of Maryland & District of Columbia published by The Grafton Press contained descriptions of historic graves compiled by fellow members of the Colonial Dames of America—Maryland Chapter and was edited by Helen. However, entries made by Helen in her 1906 diary indicated that she considered the work to be primarily her own, as she frequently refers to it as “my manuscript.” (Ridgely, 1906) In the same entry, Helen related that she has finally received some long awaited input from a Colonial Dames collaborator writing “…I have at last heard from Mrs. Sioussat & in order to let her think she had a finger in the pie, I incorporated some of her suggestions in my introduction & rewrite a good part of it…” (Ridgely, 1906)

 

Letter to Helen (Page 1), 1908 (HAMP 6977)

NPS

Helen Ridgely’s book, Historic Graves of Maryland & District of Columbia, was widely read and respected. It is considered one of the leading references on the subject and is still used to this day. As recently as 2019, this book assisted historians and archeologists in locating a previously lost graveyard in St. Mary’s County.An avid fan, Mary Odell-McMurphy of Alabama wrote a letter to Helen to express her enjoyment of the book, “You may know how interesting it was, when I tell you I read the book cover to cover with not a pause!”