author
Ellye Howell Glover
b. 1868
Best known for lively early-20th-century guides on etiquette, parties, household skills, and children’s activities, this practical writer also turned to music history in How the Piano Came to Be. Her books capture a very specific slice of everyday American culture, mixing instruction with cheerful, accessible advice.
1 Audiobook
How the Piano Came to Be
by Ellye Howell Glover
About the author
Ellye Howell Glover was an American editor and author born in 1868. Reliable library and museum records connect her with a long run of early-20th-century books aimed at family life and home entertaining, and the Smithsonian identifies her lifespan as 1868–1933.
Much of her work appeared under the friendly banner of "Dame Curtsey", a series that covered etiquette, guessing contests, party pastimes, candy making, games for children, salads and beverages, beauty talks, and advice for housewives. The books suggest a writer interested in making social customs and domestic know-how feel organized, approachable, and useful.
She also wrote How the Piano Came to Be, first published in 1913, a readable history of the instrument that helped keep her name in circulation through later reprints and digital editions. Taken together, her books show a versatile writer whose interests ranged from music and culture to the practical details of entertaining and everyday life.