Alice French (Octave Thanet): More Resources

Hello, my name is Kathryn Kuntz, I am the Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Supervisor here at the Davenport Pubic Library welcoming you today to the September edition of the Opening the Box series. We invite the public to explore with our staff a topic relating to the use of our archival collections. My presentation today is on the Alice French and Jane or Jennie Allen Crawford Collection.

Photographs and personal materials relating to Jane/Jennie M. Allen Crawford and Alice French (Octave Thanet), including inscribed copies of Thanet's books. Also "Davenport Picturesque and Descriptive".

When Alice was six years old, an epidemic of tuberculosis convinced George French to accept the invitation of Reverend Henry Washington Lee, the first Episcopalian Bishop of Iowa and also the brother-in-law of Frances, to move to Davenport, Iowa. George began a lumber business, French & Davis, and was awarded the contract to help build Camp McClellan. By 1861, George had been elected mayor of Davenport, and would be reelected the following year. In 1866, the French family helped to establish Davenport’s first Unitarian Church.

Alice attended the local Davenport schools until the age of sixteen. She then enrolled in a new private girl’s school in Poughkeepsie, New York, which later became the prestigious Vassar College. However, Alice found the school’s curriculum and policies to be too restrictive, and after completing her first year, she transferred to the Abbott Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. She studied composition and English literature, and began writing stories, though she did not consider writing as more than a pleasant pastime until several years later.

After graduating, Alice returned to her family in Davenport. There, she resumed old friendships with Celestine Fejervary, daughter of Count Nicholas Fejervary, and other well-known Davenport citizens. She traveled to Europe with her family, meeting other persons of means and high social standing. While in England, she met and became good friends with Andrew Carnegie, and was permitted to join a foxhunt with Queen Victoria.

The first of Alice’s short stories was published in a local newspaper in 1871, under the pen name ‘Frances Essex.” Other stories followed, but it wasn’t until 1878 that her first ‘notable’ story, titled “Communists and Capitalists” was published in Lippencott’s Magazine, under the name Octave Thanet. “Octave” was the male version of the name of her Abbott Academy roommate, and ‘Thanet’ was a word Alice had once seen written on the side of a freight car.

Some critics and scholars have suggested that the French family considered writing an unacceptable occupation for one of their own, leading Alice to adopt her pseudonym. However, most appear to agree that Alice was merely avoiding the assumptions and prejudices with which the publishers and readers of the day might have viewed women writers. Certainly, Octave Thanet’s true gender soon became an open secret without affecting her growing popularity, and Alice herself always proudly described herself as an authoress.

Although Alice held the institution of marriage in high esteem in her stories, she never married, and was quoted as saying that she didn’t think marriage would suit her. Instead, she set up household with her childhood friend Jane (called Jenny) Crawford, who had been widowed after a brief marriage. Alice and Jane divided their time between the French family home in Davenport and a country plantation in Arkansas called Clover Bend. It was in Arkansas that Alice began to dabble in photography, setting up a lab for developing her own pictures.

Alice was a founding member of the Davenport Writers Club, the membership of which boasted local authors George Cram Cook, Susan Glaspell, Arthur Davison Ficke, Floyd Dell, and Harry Harrison. Her Davenport home was the site of many dinner parties and impromptu readings, as well as meetings of the literary society that she also helped establish. By 1914, she and several of her peers formed the Society of Midland Authors, of which Alice was the Iowa representative.

In 1899, she reminded her old friend Andrew Carnegie that he was an honorary member of the Davenport Library Association, and urged him to make a contribution toward a large public library building. Mr. Carnegie donated a generous $75,000, and the new library was dedicated on May 11, 1904. Although the original Carnegie building is no more, the present public library owes a debt of gratitude to Alice French.

Alice did not limit her community involvement to the literary. She was active in club work, and served for several years as president of the Iowa Society of Colonial Dames. During World War I, she organized Red Cross relief efforts and participated in many patriotic organizations, using her popularity to urge Americans to join the war.

Despite these honors, the last years of Alice’s life were not easy. Her eyesight became poor, and despite a cataract operation in 1917, she eventually began dictating her work. However, her writing style and Victorian values were no longer as popular as they had been, and although she was still known affectionately in literary circles, she did not command as loyal a readership, and her book sales declined. Alice, who had become extremely overweight, developed diabetes, eventually losing a leg to the disease in 1927, confining her to a wheelchair. Unable to continue their lavish lifestyle, or manage the 10th Street house, she and Jenny moved into rooms at the Blackhawk Hotel.

A few years later, the Great Depression caused Alice’s bank to fail, leaving her virtually penniless. But the most devastating blow came in 1932, when her companion and friend Jenny Crawford died. Alice spent her last few years in an apartment in Bettendorf, dependent on relatives. Her health already poor, she caught a respiratory infection in December of 1933. Falling into a coma for two days, Alice French passed away on January 9, 1934.

Although times and literary styles have changed, and the name Octave Thanet has passed into unfortunate obscurity, the author’s stories and novels still give piercing insight into the culture, politics, and social mores of the 19^th century, as well as providing examples of complex, yet delicately drawn characters. As Lydia Market Barrette stated, “The number of her readers is at present small--too small by half, for good writing does not deserve neglect.” And certainly, if the works of Octave Thanet have had great influence on the literary world, no less so have the community works of Alice French helped develop present-day Davenport, Iowa.

Her father was active in the development of the city. He was a partner in the firm Mandeville and Allen, railroad contractors. He died in 1875 and Augusta died in 1899.

Jane was educated in Boston.

Jane’s husband passed away between the years 1875 and 1883. Unable to find definitive proof of when he died.  Alice and Jane spent their winters at the Allen Plantation at Clover Bend, Arkansas. The last three winters of her life they spent with the late Mrs. Nathaniel French at Tucson, Arizona.

She was a member of the Trinity Episcopal cathedral of Davenport. She was a member of the Colonial Dames of Davenport, on the board of managers of St. Luke’s hospital for many years, and she was active in Red Cross work in Davenport.

Alice and Jane lived together in Clover Bend. They decided to join house holds in Davenport and found a house at 1003 Perry Street. Later moved to a home on East Tenth Street in 1907.

suffered from angina pectoris from 1921 to the year of her death in 1932.

Portrait of French and Crawford seated on a large porch covered in ivy admiring a fern.

A typed paper entitled "Alice French" written by Sybil Waterman, wife of Charles Dana Waterman provides interesting insights into the personal life of French and Crawford as well as providing helpful information pertaining to items in the collection.

Twenty-six page typed paper on the life and family of Alice French, aka author Octave Thanet, and her friend and companion Jane "Jennie" M. Allen Crawford.

Portrait of French standing by a window next to a vase of flowers. She is wearing a light colored gown and is looking directly into the camera. Image is signed by Launey and is dated 1917. The portrait was removed from the brown paper enclosure it was originally in, however that enclosure remains in the folder.

The cover is a late 1800s paper binding for a photograph book manufactured by The Heinn Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is style number 1. In 1896 Adolphe Heinn founded The Heinn Company, a manufacturer of the Morehouse loose leaf ledger, loose leaf price books, loose leaf scrap books and loose leaf tariff files. The Heinn Company was the originator of several of the first loose leaf systems, all fully patented. Notable patents include the Stay Open book which prevented books from closing and the Telescopic Back book, which became the dominate price book around the world. (https://www.heinnchapman.com/the-binders-that-made-milwaukee-great/)

“Clover Bend” is hand written in pen on the front. When Clover Bend was half-destroyed in a fire in 1897-1898, the ladies had it rebuilt and renamed it ‘Thanford’ a combination of Thanet and Crawford. They lived there until March 1909.

The next collection of photographs are all taken around Clover Bend, Arkansas. There are visiting performers with a large brown bear. There are nieces and nephews of Alice and Jane. There are a couple images of the local river near the home, Black River and another depiction of the home.

There are two cyanotypes in this set of images. They are of Fanny and Ginger and of their driveway. There are images of their yard, hunters, their home and their guests.

A couple more cyanotypes of the hunters and a children’s party. The smaller images are of the game that was shot during the hunt.

These images are loose. The image to left is of Alice sitting next to Jane who was restrict to bedrest. The photograph next to it is of Alice from the Hostettler studio in 1909.

Snapshot of Alice French and Jennie Crawford taken in Arizona. French is seated and has a pair of crutches nearby. Crawford is lying in a cot with wheels. They are sitting outdoors and appear quite elderly.

We have a few more studio prints of Alice from the Hastings, White and Fisher Photographers and the Jarvis White Art. Co. both of Davenport.

We have two photograph albums that are still intact. They have similar images in each. The first album holds larger photographs. It is to A.B. Allen from J. A. C. (Jane Allen Crawford). The first image is of Clover Bend.

Images of the country side and local residences including Riverside Cottages and the Black River.

Images of woman sitting on a front porch and children.

Image of a mill and an image of a woman walking to a front porch. My guess is that this is taken at their home in Davenport.

The following are images housed in the second album. There is a handwritten note in pencil stating that the “photographs [were] taken by Alice French (“Octave Thanet”) and Jennie Allen at Clover Bend, Ark. and by the sea (?) [in] Mass.”

The photographs featured here are unidentified.

There were many duplicates to the first album we viewed. Jane did inherit 5,000 acres in Arkansas. These may be homes located there.

A list of Jane’s belongings and who she wished them to go to. Also a list of rugs that Harned & Von Maur stored for Alice French.

Two page carbon copy of "Memoranda of my effects" created by Jane/Jennie M. Allen Crawford distributing personal items to her beloved friend, Alice French, and family members William L. Allen (her brother), William Seabury Allen (nephew), Elizabeth Waterman (niece), Alice Allen (sister) and Jane Lowry Waterman.

List and valuation of Oriental rugs from Alice French's collection placed in storage at Harned & Von Maur Department Store December 22, 1927.

A 1927 letter from Alice to Will to pay for something she owed.  There is another letter dated 1923 to Mayor Alfred C. Mueller saying thank you for some project they were working on together.

Newsletter entitled Pokeroot about their life in Clover Bend, Arkansas.

Newsletter "The Clover Bend Pokeroot" dated 18 February 1906. This is a typed five-page document sharing the "news" at Clover Bend. This newsletter is mentioned in Sybil Waterman's paper on Alice French.

Documents about land transfers of the Clover Bend home and acreage from William Allen to F. W. Tucker in the 1930s.  Other shareholder for the Allen’s five thousand acre plantation. He was also the plantation manager. Colonel F. W. Tucker.

1892 deed for Ernest Allen's share of Clover Bend, AR property to Jennie Crawford. 1900 agreement between W.L. Allen and F.W. Tucker regarding Clover Bend, AR property.

In the collection, there are a few newspaper clippings including clippings from the dust jacket of Gorge McMichael’s book Journey to Obscurity

In the clipping, there are a couple about Clover Bend. Arkansas Gazette Magazine from January 1934 "Octave Thanet Passes" Quad-City Times 24 May 1981 page 6D "Club marks golden day: Octave Thanet inspired them"

These articles are originals and have been encapsulated. The 1934 article focuses on French's time spent in Clover Bend, Arkansas at the home she shared with Jennie M. (Allen) Crawford which they called "Thanford". The other marks the 50th anniversary of the "Octave Thanet Book Club" in Davenport, Iowa.

Knitters in the Sun published 1887.

In 1887, Alice’s first collection of short stories, Knitters in the Sun, was published and received rave reviews. The New York Sun stated that Octave Thanet had ‘no superior and very few peers

We All published 1889

Expiation published in 1890. the act of extinguishing the guilt incurred by something. the act or process of making atonement for something. make amends for.

Alice’s first novel, Expiation, set on a plantation after the Civil War, was published in 1890 to equally glowing press: the Boston Beacon stated that “Miss French has with the work taken her place among the very foremost of American writers of fiction.”

Stories of A Western Town published 1892.

Her most recognized anthology, Stories From a Western Town, was set in a fictionalized Davenport, and followed the Lossing family and those connected to them through several of her pet themes. The collection extolled the societal benefits and personal rewards, including marital happiness, of strong, honest, compassionate business and political leadership. Stories From a Western Town was one of Theodore Roosevelt’s favorite books, one of the few, it is reported, that he brought with him on African safari.

Otto the Knight published 1893.

The next year, she released her second story collection, Otto the Knight.

The Missionary Sheriff published 1897.

Between 1896 and 1900, Alice had over fifty of her short stories and five books to her credit. At that time, Alice was one of the highest paid authors in America, averaging five cents a word. Her friend Mark Twain, in comparison, had to self-publish much of his own work.

The Captured Dream published 1897.

A Book of True Lovers published in 1897. This edition published in 1899 by Doubleday & McClure Co.

The Heart of Toil published 1898.

A Slave to Duty & Other Women published 1898.

An Adventure in Photography published 1899.

The Man of the Hour published 1905.

One of her most acclaimed works, Man of the Hour (1905), attacked the movement towards organized labor, and vilified communism.

By In heritance published in 1910.

Stories that End Well published 1911.

A Step on the Stair published 1913.

Davenport Picturesque and Descriptive" published by American Art Company, 1889.

11 parts – 10 complete parts with an extra part featuring more businesses.

Part 1 – Scott County Court House City Directory:  between Ripley & Scott & 4th & 5^th. Built in 1886 in an ornate Beaux Arts style. It was designed by Davenport architect John C. Cochrane. It was demolished March 1955.  The new courthouse was completed in 1956.

Residence of J. M. Parker. City Directory:  1208 Main Street. Listed in City Directories from 1868 to 1892-93. Both J.M. and his second wife, Ella, died in 1892.

Beginning in 1894-95 directory lists Charles A. Ficke as the resident.*Also See Architectural and Historical Survey

In 2007 = Delta Sigma Chi Fraternity, Palmer College of Chiropractic

St. Ambrose Seminary: n side of Locust bet. Scott & Western/518 West Locust                  

Ambrose Hall with trees-no leaves-3 outbuildings on east side. Priests standing on porch and large group of presume students east side of steps. One man in light colored shirt and west side of steps. Windows are partially open

A brief history of Davenport published in each of the parts!

Part Two Residence of L. French, M. D. 

Horse and buggy in front

City Directory:  Lucius French, physician

res 318 East 6th

A fun photo of a woman lounging on a hammock.

Thank you page.