Emerson’s “Aunt Mary” helped raise him after his father died and had a profound influence on his life and works. Self-educated, widely read, and a prolific letter writer and diarist, she was described by her nephew as “the best writer in Massachusetts.” Emerson copied out a selection of her letters and maxims into four substantial notebooks and frequently referred back to them for inspiration in his own writing.

A Genius always new, subtle, frolicsome, judicial, unpredictable…

Mary exhorted her nephews to “always do what you are afraid to do,” and by her insistence set standards for their intellectual growth.

Learn more in the Lyceum.