Bertha Mahony Miller and Beatrix Potter

Throughout her career as a writer and illustrator of some of the most famous childrens books ever to have been published, Beatrix Potter herself shunned publicity and rarely gave interviews. And of course at that time, famous authors didn’t have to do the grand tour and sign books and give readings to promote their books like they do now. But one particular request for a meeting did intrigue Potter. A request from Bertha Mahony Miller.

Miller was born in Rockport, MA in 1892 and after a year of secretarial school at Simmons College, she joined the staff of the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union (WEIU), a Boston institution that protected and promoted working women. But it was her work ten years later that attracted the attention of Beatrix Potter. Mahony opened the Bookshop for Boys and Girls to make sure the children had access to the best books available. Her store was one of the first of it’s kind to offer story hours, art exhibits and even a poetry series geared for children. It was her goal to instill in children a lifelong love and appreciation of reading and in 1924 she created The Horn Book Magazine, the first magazine devoted exclusively to children’s books and reading.

Potter had never hear of Mahony and The Horn Book Magazine and when Mahony was traveling abroad she asked if she could visit Potter to find out what were the sources of the Peter Rabbit books. This question intrigued Potter – Who was this Bertha Mahoney and what kind of question was that? Potter never granted the interview but did eventually mail Mahony a letter, and Mahony printed it nearly word for word in the Horn Book. In the interview, Potter attributes her work to “Nonconformist ancestors, childhood summers in the company of Scottish witches and fairies, and a precocious memory for places and feelings.”

Needless to say the two became fast friends and communicated across the Pond frequently and eventually the letters lead to their shared love of literature, farming and antique furniture. And it was on May 20, 1927 that Peter Rabbit made a request of Mahony. Not for himself mind you – and he offered something in return. According to Peter, Beatrix Potter was trying to raise money to save a strip of woodland and meadow near Windermere Ferry that was in imminent danger of being taken over by developers to be stripped of it’s natural beauty and used as an extension of the town. Knowing that many Americans loved the antiquities on this side of the Pond, might they be interested in contributing one guinea to help with this endeavor in exchange for an autographed picture?

When Mahony published the plea in the next Horn Book, “Potter’s Americans” as her followers had become known, were quick to accept the offer and Potter saved yet another area of Lake front property. Bertha Mahony Miller died in 1969 and her energy and commitment to promoting the best books for children are still a driving force behind The Horn Book Magazine.

Bertha Mahony Miller and Beatrix Potter