Sangster, Margaret Elizabeth Munson

▪ American writer and editor

née  Margaret Elizabeth Munson  

born Feb. 22, 1838, New Rochelle, N.Y., U.S.

died June 3, 1912, South Orange, N.J.

      American writer and editor, noted in her day for her stories and books that mingled Christian devotion with homely wisdom.

      Margaret Munson was an avid reader from an early age. She turned easily to writing, and her first published story, “Little Janey” (1855), won her a commission to write 100 juvenile stories to accompany a series of illustrations. In 1858 she married George Sangster and gave up her writing career, resuming it only after his death in 1871. She then contributed several pieces to Hearth and Home and in 1873 succeeded Mary Mapes Dodge (Dodge, Mary Mapes) as editor of that magazine's children's page. A short time later she became assistant editor of the magazine, a post she held until it ceased publication in 1875. She continued to write for other periodicals, especially essays and letters reflecting her belief that she had a “mission to girlhood” to be a Christian leader. She became editor of the family page of the Christian Intelligencer in 1876 and subsequently became a literary adviser to the publishing firm of Harper & Brothers, editing the “Little Postmistress” department of Harper's Young People from 1882 to 1889. In 1889 she succeeded Mary Louise Booth (Booth, Mary Louise) as editor of Harper's Bazaar, where she remained until the magazine failed in 1899.

      In addition to contributing frequently to popular and Christian magazines for women and children, Sangster wrote numerous books, including An Autobiography: From My Youth Up; Personal Reminiscences (1909). Pious and cheerful, sentimental, and yet full of practical common sense, her writings were much loved in their day.

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