Emily Norcross Dickinson

Emily Norcross Dickinson was the wife of Edward Dickinson and the mother of the renowned American poet Emily Dickinson, as well as Austin Dickinson and Lavinia Dickinson. She was born in Monson, Massachusetts, and spent most of her life in Amherst, Massachusetts, where her family was prominent in the community, with connections to Amherst College and the Congregational Church. Her life was marked by her strong Puritan values, which were influenced by her upbringing in New England and her family's ties to the First Church of Christ in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was also related to other notable figures, including Samuel Fowler Dickinson and Lucretia Gunn Dickinson.

Early Life and Education

Emily Norcross Dickinson was born in 1804 to Bela Norcross and Lavinia Norcross in Monson, Massachusetts. Her family was of English descent and had settled in New England in the early 17th century. She received her education at the Monson Academy and later attended the Ipswich Female Seminary, where she was exposed to the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Her education was also influenced by the Transcendentalist movement, which was popular in New England during the 19th century. She was particularly drawn to the writings of William Wordsworth and John Keats, which would later influence her daughter's poetic style.

Marriage and Family

In 1828, Emily Norcross Dickinson married Edward Dickinson, a prominent lawyer and treasurer of Amherst College. The couple had three children: Emily Dickinson, Austin Dickinson, and Lavinia Dickinson. Her husband was a close friend of Henry Ward Beecher and Ralph Waldo Emerson, and their home, the Evergreens, was a hub of intellectual and social activity, hosting notable figures such as Thomas Wentworth Higginson and Mabel Loomis Todd. Emily Norcross Dickinson was also acquainted with other notable women, including Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Her family's social circle included the Dickinson family and the Fowler family, who were prominent in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Relationship with Emily Dickinson

Emily Norcross Dickinson's relationship with her daughter Emily Dickinson was complex and multifaceted. While she encouraged her daughter's literary pursuits, she also expected her to conform to traditional womanly duties. Emily Dickinson's poetic style was influenced by her mother's love of literature and her exposure to the works of William Shakespeare and John Milton. However, their relationship was also marked by tension and conflict, particularly as Emily Dickinson grew older and began to assert her independence. Emily Norcross Dickinson was also concerned about her daughter's reclusive nature and her lack of interest in marriage and social conventions. She sought advice from Dr. Josiah Gilbert Holland and Rev. Charles Wadsworth on how to manage her daughter's behavior.

Social Life and Interests

Emily Norcross Dickinson was an active member of the Amherst community, participating in various social events and charitable organizations. She was a member of the Ladies' Charitable Society and the Amherst Female Seminary board of trustees, and was also involved in the Congregational Church. Her social circle included the Wadsworth family, the Fowler family, and the Humphrey family, who were all prominent in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was also acquainted with other notable women, including Julia Ward Howe and Louisa May Alcott. Emily Norcross Dickinson's interests included gardening, music, and literature, and she was particularly fond of the works of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.

Later Life and Legacy

In her later years, Emily Norcross Dickinson suffered from ill health and was often confined to her home, the Evergreens. Despite this, she continued to manage the household and care for her family, with the help of her daughter Lavinia Dickinson. After her death in 1882, her legacy lived on through her children, particularly Emily Dickinson, who would go on to become one of the most celebrated American poets of all time. Emily Norcross Dickinson's influence can be seen in the works of other notable writers, including Robert Frost and Edna St. Vincent Millay. Her family's home, the Evergreens, is now a museum and a testament to the Dickinson family's enduring legacy in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Emily Dickinson Museum and the Amherst College Archives also preserve the family's history and legacy, including the works of Emily Norcross Dickinson's daughter, Emily Dickinson. Category:19th-century American women