How a determined 19th-century editor reshaped American culture — and how her 90 years still inspire us today.
Most people know Thanksgiving as a day of gratitude, good food, and gathering around the table. But few know that we owe the holiday — at least in its national form — to one persistent, visionary woman: Sarah Josepha Hale.
Long before she became known as the “Mother of Thanksgiving,” Hale was a writer, editor, educator, preservationist, and advocate for women at a time when their voices were barely allowed in public life. She lived to age 90, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape American traditions almost two centuries later.
A Childhood Built on Learning and Possibility
Sarah Josepha Buell was born in 1788 in Newport, New Hampshire, to parents who did something unusual for their time — they educated their daughter as seriously as their son. With limited options for girls’ schooling, Sarah was taught at home by her mother and older brother Horatio, who brought home his Dartmouth College books and shared lessons in Latin, Greek, philosophy, and literature.
By fifteen, she had read all of Shakespeare. By eighteen, she was running her own private school. And by her early adulthood, she had developed the curiosity and intellectual discipline that would define her life.
Widowed at 34 — and a Career is Born
Sarah married lawyer David Hale in 1813, and the two shared a deep commitment to learning. They spent two hours every evening studying together — a practice she maintained even after becoming a mother of five.
But in 1822, tragedy struck. David died suddenly, leaving Sarah a widow with young children and no income. After an unsuccessful attempt to run a millinery shop, she did something bold for a woman of her time:
She turned to writing to survive.
Her first novel, Northwood, was published in 1827 and brought her national attention. It also included one of the earliest published descriptions of a New England Thanksgiving meal — a tradition she hoped to one day share with the entire nation.
Becoming America’s Most Influential Editor
In 1837, Hale was hired as editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, the most widely read magazine for women in America. She held the position for 40 years, shaping national taste and advocating for education, literature, fashion, architecture, and philanthropic causes.
Through her editorial leadership:
- She promoted American writers like Hawthorne, Poe, and Stowe.
- She influenced architectural trends and women’s fashion.
- She helped popularize the white wedding dress after Queen Victoria’s example.
- She raised funds for historic preservation, including the Bunker Hill Monument and Mount Vernon.
- She championed women’s education and supported the founding of Vassar College.
Her work made her one of the most powerful cultural voices of the 19th century.
The 36-Year Campaign That Made Thanksgiving a National Holiday
Hale’s most famous accomplishment nearly didn’t happen.
For decades, Thanksgiving was celebrated sporadically and only in certain states — mostly New England. Hale believed the nation needed a shared day of gratitude to strengthen families, heal divisions, and encourage unity.
Beginning in 1827, she launched a relentless campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday:
- She wrote essays and editorials
- She petitioned governors
- She wrote letters to five U.S. presidents
- She used her magazine as a platform
- She repeated her message year after year for 36 years
Most presidents ignored her — until Abraham Lincoln. In the depths of the Civil War, he recognized the unifying power of her idea. In 1863, he issued the proclamation declaring the last Thursday of November a national day of Thanksgiving.
Hale’s decades of persistence paid off.
Beyond Thanksgiving: A Legacy of Empowerment
While she never aligned with the women’s suffrage movement, Hale spent her life advocating for women’s advancement in other ways:
- Promoting women’s education
- Supporting married women’s property rights
- Encouraging women to enter teaching and nursing
- Publishing Woman’s Record, a groundbreaking book documenting notable women throughout history
- Founding the Seaman’s Aid Society to support widows and children of sailors
And, of course, she authored one of the most beloved nursery rhymes of all time:
“Mary had a little lamb…”
Living to 90: What We Know About Her Longevity
Unlike modern public figures, Hale didn’t leave detailed records of her diet or daily habits. But we do know:
- She read and studied daily
- She remained intellectually active into her late 80s
- She believed strongly in physical health and mental cheerfulness
- She advocated for sensible dress and against restrictive corsets
- Her life was filled with purpose, creativity, learning, and service
In her own words:
“Physical health and its attendant cheerfulness… are indispensable to successful intellectual effort.”
Famous Words Still Quoted Today
A few of her most enduring lines:
“The mind of a nation is the mind of the mothers.”
“The world is moving, and the mind of woman is moving with it.”
“We have too few national holidays in the sense of the whole nation keeping the day.”
And of course…
“Mary had a little lamb…”
Why Sarah Josepha Hale Belongs in the 100 Club
Sarah Hale lived a life marked by resilience, intellect, influence, and unwavering dedication to her causes. She reshaped American culture not through power or position, but through persistence and the written word.
Her 90 years were a testament to the strength of purpose — and her legacy lives on every time families gather around a Thanksgiving table.
Photo: Pictorial Press Ltd/ Alamy. Editorial use only.