Mary T. (Mary Theresa) Waggaman

Born Mary Theresa McKee in Baltimore on September 21, 1846, she became one of the best-known American writers of Catholic juvenile fiction. She wrote as Mary T. Waggaman after marrying George Augustus Waggaman, and her work was especially associated with stories for children and families.

Her books were published in large numbers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and bibliographic records show a long list of titles including Killykinick, The Luck of the Rondells, Captain Ted, and Strong Arm of Avalon. Her fiction was closely tied to Catholic publishing and readership, but its appeal also came from brisk storytelling, humor, and an affectionate eye for young characters.

She died on July 30, 1931. Today she is remembered mainly for her place in American Catholic literature and for a body of children’s fiction that offers a clear glimpse into the values and reading culture of her era.