Mary Stoyell Stimpson

Mary Stoyell Stimpson, also known as Mary Adelia Stimpson, was an American writer born in 1857 and died in 1939. Sources consistently identify her birth name as Mary Adelia Stoyell, and several literary archives list her under both versions of her name.

She is best known for The Child's Book of American Biography, first published in 1915, a collection of short sketches introducing young readers to notable Americans. The book was written in a simple, approachable style and remained visible long after its first publication through later editions, Project Gutenberg, and LibriVox.

Records also show that she was connected with other literary work, including the jointly edited Representative Women of New England (1904). Although not much detailed personal information is easy to confirm, the surviving catalog and library entries suggest a writer devoted to educational and accessible nonfiction for children.