Elizabeth Moorhead Vermorcken (c. 1865 – June 2, 1955)[1] was an American writer from Pittsburgh. She is best known for her novels set in Pittsburgh.[2] She generally wrote under her maiden name, Elizabeth Moorhead.[1] During her lifetime, she was considered Pittsburgh's foremost female author.[3]
Moorhead was born in Pittsburgh. Her exact birthdate is not known, but was just after the end of the American Civil War in 1865.[1] Moorhead's father, William J. Moorhead, owned a steel mill, and her grandfather, James Kennedy Moorhead, was a congressman.[1][4][5] Moorhead was educated at a private boarding school in Philadelphia. After graduation, she learned to speak French after a winter in Paris.[1] She married the Belgian artist Frederick Vermorcken in 1891, but the marriage ended sometime between 1894 and 1895, at which point Moorhead returned to America.[1] Between her marriage in 1891 and her return to Pittsburgh in 1910, she lived in Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, and Paris.[4]
From 1910 to 1928, she taught English at Carnegie Technical Schools (now known as Carnegie Mellon University).[1][2] Not much is known about her personal life during these years. She is known to have published a number of articles and short stories in various magazines, including Harper's, Scribner's, and Century.[1][5] She was a well-regarded speaker on literary subjects.[6] She retired from teaching in 1928.[7]
Writing career
After her retirement, Moorhead transitioned from short stories to novels. In 1929, she published her first novel, Clouded Hills.[5] A reviewer for The New York Times wrote that "Miss Moorhouse has done well for her first novel. Perhaps with time she will strengthen her hand."[8] Her second novel, Answer Before Dark, was published in 1930. A review in The Washington Post described her writing in Answer Before Dark and in Clouded Hills, as having, "a delicacy of diction which is very charming."[9][10] Her third novel, The Forbidden Tree, was published in 1933.[2] All three stories are set in Pittsburgh and although they were not autobiographical, often drew inspiration from Moorhead's life.[2]
Moorhead moved to Florence, Italy, in 1933, after the onset of the Great Depression.[7][11] During her time in Italy, she began to write a history of Pittsburgh based on her family records.[1][11] She fled back to Pittsburgh in November 1940 after Italy joined World War II, leaving the majority of her possessions behind.[11] In Pittsburgh, she continued work on the book, eventually published in 1942 by the University of Philadelphia Press as Whirling Spindle.[7]
Her final book, These Too Were Here: Louise Homer and Willa Cather, was published in 1950, also by the University of Philadelphia Press.[12] It was a short reminisce about the early life of Pittsburgh novelist Willa Cather.[12][12] Although it became the basis of many biographies of Cather, later reviewers have described it as "highly romanticized" and have questioned its accuracy.[1]
Whirling Spindle (1942, University of Philadelphia Press)[7]
These Too Were Here: Louise Homer and Willa Cather (1950, University of Philadelphia Press)[1]
References
^ abcdefghijklBohlke, L. Brent; Hoover, Sharon (2002). Willa Cather Remembered. U of Nebraska Press. p. 157. ISBN0803223951.
^ abcde"Mrs. Vermorcken's New Novel". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 11, 1933. Retrieved 2018-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
^Burke, Evelyn (Mar 29, 1933). "Dictator's Dictates Can't Make Women of Italy Grow Fat". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved 2018-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Local Author Interprets Pittsburgh in First Novel". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Sep 11, 1929. Retrieved 2018-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcd"News of the New Books". Harrisburg Sunday Courier. Dec 8, 1929. Retrieved 2018-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
^"The Books of the Year". Pittsburgh Daily Post. Apr 17, 1904. Retrieved 2018-12-04 – via Newspapers.com.
Works by or about Elizabeth Moorhead Vermorcken at Wikisource
August 21, 2023
elizabeth, moorhead, vermorcken, 1865, june, 1955, american, writer, from, pittsburgh, best, known, novels, pittsburgh, generally, wrote, under, maiden, name, during, lifetime, considered, pittsburgh, foremost, female, author, contents, early, life, writing, c. Elizabeth Moorhead Vermorcken c 1865 June 2 1955 1 was an American writer from Pittsburgh She is best known for her novels set in Pittsburgh 2 She generally wrote under her maiden name Elizabeth Moorhead 1 During her lifetime she was considered Pittsburgh s foremost female author 3 Contents 1 Early life 2 Writing career 3 Bibliography 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditMoorhead was born in Pittsburgh Her exact birthdate is not known but was just after the end of the American Civil War in 1865 1 Moorhead s father William J Moorhead owned a steel mill and her grandfather James Kennedy Moorhead was a congressman 1 4 5 Moorhead was educated at a private boarding school in Philadelphia After graduation she learned to speak French after a winter in Paris 1 She married the Belgian artist Frederick Vermorcken in 1891 but the marriage ended sometime between 1894 and 1895 at which point Moorhead returned to America 1 Between her marriage in 1891 and her return to Pittsburgh in 1910 she lived in Philadelphia New York San Francisco and Paris 4 From 1910 to 1928 she taught English at Carnegie Technical Schools now known as Carnegie Mellon University 1 2 Not much is known about her personal life during these years She is known to have published a number of articles and short stories in various magazines including Harper s Scribner s and Century 1 5 She was a well regarded speaker on literary subjects 6 She retired from teaching in 1928 7 Writing career EditAfter her retirement Moorhead transitioned from short stories to novels In 1929 she published her first novel Clouded Hills 5 A reviewer for The New York Times wrote that Miss Moorhouse has done well for her first novel Perhaps with time she will strengthen her hand 8 Her second novel Answer Before Dark was published in 1930 A review in The Washington Post described her writing in Answer Before Dark and in Clouded Hills as having a delicacy of diction which is very charming 9 10 Her third novel The Forbidden Tree was published in 1933 2 All three stories are set in Pittsburgh and although they were not autobiographical often drew inspiration from Moorhead s life 2 Moorhead moved to Florence Italy in 1933 after the onset of the Great Depression 7 11 During her time in Italy she began to write a history of Pittsburgh based on her family records 1 11 She fled back to Pittsburgh in November 1940 after Italy joined World War II leaving the majority of her possessions behind 11 In Pittsburgh she continued work on the book eventually published in 1942 by the University of Philadelphia Press as Whirling Spindle 7 Her final book These Too Were Here Louise Homer and Willa Cather was published in 1950 also by the University of Philadelphia Press 12 It was a short reminisce about the early life of Pittsburgh novelist Willa Cather 12 12 Although it became the basis of many biographies of Cather later reviewers have described it as highly romanticized and have questioned its accuracy 1 Moorhead died in Pittsburgh on June 2 1955 1 Bibliography EditClouded Hills 1929 Bobbs Merrill 5 Answer Before Dark 1930 Bobbs Merrill 10 The Forbidden Tree 1933 Bobbs Merrill 2 Whirling Spindle 1942 University of Philadelphia Press 7 These Too Were Here Louise Homer and Willa Cather 1950 University of Philadelphia Press 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l Bohlke L Brent Hoover Sharon 2002 Willa Cather Remembered U of Nebraska Press p 157 ISBN 0803223951 a b c d e Mrs Vermorcken s New Novel Pittsburgh Post Gazette March 11 1933 Retrieved 2018 12 04 via Newspapers com Burke Evelyn Mar 29 1933 Dictator s Dictates Can t Make Women of Italy Grow Fat The Pittsburgh Press Retrieved 2018 12 04 via Newspapers com a b Local Author Interprets Pittsburgh in First Novel Pittsburgh Post Gazette Sep 11 1929 Retrieved 2018 12 04 via Newspapers com a b c d News of the New Books Harrisburg Sunday Courier Dec 8 1929 Retrieved 2018 12 04 via Newspapers com The Books of the Year Pittsburgh Daily Post Apr 17 1904 Retrieved 2018 12 04 via Newspapers com a b c d Bohlke amp Hoover 2002 p 158 Tide House and Some Other Recent Works of Fiction The New York Times 29 September 1929 ProQuest 104908573 Answer Before Dark brief review The Washington Post 18 May 1930 ProQuest 150092704 a b A Group of Recent Books Answer Before Dark The Los Angeles Times March 16 1930 Retrieved 2018 12 04 via Newspapers com a b c Humphrey Constance Mar 3 1941 Pittsburgh Author Leaves Picturesque Home in Italy The Pittsburgh Press Retrieved 2018 12 04 via Newspapers com a b c Bohlke amp Hoover 2002 p 156 External links Edit Works by or about Elizabeth Moorhead Vermorcken at Wikisource Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elizabeth Moorhead amp oldid 1155129729, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
