author
Josephine Pollard
1834–1892
A prolific 19th-century American writer, she created hymns, poems, and a wide range of books for young readers, especially on religious and historical themes. Her work helped shape the moral and devotional reading many children encountered in the late 1800s.
3 Audiobooks
Elfin Land
by Josephine Pollard
The Life of George Washington. In Words of One Syllable
by Josephine Pollard
About the author
Born in New York City on October 17, 1834, Josephine Pollard was an American author, poet, and hymn writer who published under her own name and as J. P. Pollard. She is remembered for writing more than a hundred hymns and for producing many children's books that brought Bible stories, history, and everyday lessons to younger readers.
Pollard's writing career was closely tied to religious and educational publishing. She worked as an editor for the Sunday School Times and also for the Methodist Book Concern, where she edited a magazine for African American readers. Her books and verses were known for their clear, accessible style, which made them especially suited to family and church reading.
She remained closely connected to New York throughout her life and died there on August 15, 1892. Today, she is best remembered as a versatile and hardworking writer whose hymns and children's literature reached a broad popular audience in the 19th century.