Virtual Mini-Reunion #7

Melinda Ponder will share stories about the life of Katharine Lee Bates on Tuesday, July 14th at 3:30 pm eastern.  Her noted biography, Katharine Lee Bates: From Sea to Shining Sea, tells the story of the trail-blazing woman who wrote "America the Beautiful."   It compellingly portrays the story of her public triumphs as an activist poet as well as her personal heartaches as a single woman who had to choose between marriage and a career.

Illustrating her talk with vintage photos, Melinda will describe the many roles that the fledgling Wellesley College played in the life and career of “Katie of ’80” (class of 1880). Once she joined the young female Wellesley faculty members, they pulled her into the tumultuous events of the country, and she responded with “America the Beautiful,” and by mentoring the next generation of American poets, including Robert Frost.