author
Harriet B. (Harriet Burn) McKeever
1807–1886
A longtime Philadelphia teacher who turned to writing with a warm moral purpose, she wrote devotional poetry, hymns, and fiction for young readers. Her work blends religious feeling with gentle encouragement, making her a distinctive voice in 19th-century American literature.
1 Audiobook
Woodcliff
by Harriet B. (Harriet Burn) McKeever
About the author
Born in Philadelphia on August 28, 1807, Harriet Burn McKeever spent much of her life in educational work there, reportedly teaching in a girls' school for 36 years. She was also associated with St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, a connection that shaped much of her writing.
McKeever wrote both poetry and fiction, often with a clear religious and instructive tone. Her 1857 collection Twilight Musings and Other Poems gathered hymns and devotional verse, some written for use at St. Andrew's, and bibliographic records also credit her with many books for young readers, including titles such as Edith's Ministry, The Old Chateau, Nothing but Leaves, and Crown Jewels.
Sources disagree on whether she died in 1886 or 1887, but they consistently place her death in Chester, Pennsylvania, after a long career as a teacher and writer. Even with few personal details surviving, her work suggests an author interested in faith, character, and encouragement for young people and families.