Maud Hart Lovelace
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| The Lovelace Wing mural, created by local artist Marian Anderson, depicts scenes from Lovelace’s ten Betsy-Tacy books. |
The Lovelace Wing, for children and young adults, is named for author Maud Hart Lovelace. Her Betsy-Tacy children’s book series immortalized Mankato, which she fictionalized as “ Deep Valley.”
The author was born in Mankato on April 25, 1892, to Thomas and Stella (Palmer) Hart. Even in childhood she was a storyteller and writer. When she was 10, her father had her poems printed in a booklet. While in her teens, Maud Hart sent stories to magazines and sold her first story at age 18.
After graduating from Mankato High School in 1910, Maud Hart attended the University of Minnesota. Following a short period of study abroad, she married writer Delos Wheeler Lovelace in 1917. The couple co-authored several books.
When their daughter Merian was young, Maud Hart Lovelace began telling Merian stories about her own childhood in Mankato. Lovelace decided to write one book about her childhood experiences, calling herself Betsy, and her friends Tacy and Tib. Betsy-Tacy books resulted. In Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown, Lovelace described her delight at the opening of the Carnegie Library. Mankato librarian Maud Van Buren appeared as Miss Sparrow in several of the Betsy-Tacy books.
Lovelace recounted more activities in turn-of-the-century “ Deep Valley” in three additional books. Marguerite Marsh, a Mankato assistant librarian in the early 1900s is the main character in the novel Emily of Deep Valley.
Maud Hart Lovelace wrote 24 books, of which six are historical novels for adults. Most of her books are set in Minnesota. The author died March 11, 1980 in Claremont, California. She is buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Mankato.
Lovelace Wing Resources
While in the Lovelace Wing, enjoy the Passage of Time Mural painted by 25 area youth in celebration of the Mankato Sesquicentennial in 2003.
Links
Betsy-Tacy Society – Founded in 1990, the Betsy-Tacy Society is committed to preserving existing landmarks associated with Maud Hart Lovelace's life and work.
Greater Mankato Convention and Visitors Bureau – A listing of historical locations in the Greater Mankato Area.
Blue Earth County Historical Society – The mission of the Blue Earth County Historical Society is to collect, preserve, and promote the history of Blue Earth County for present and future generations.
Minnesota State University-Mankato E-Museum – Tour the MSU-M E-Museum for information ranging from Prehistoric Technology to Maud Hart Lovelace to Foods of the World.
