author
Mary Wilder Tileston
1843–1934
An American anthologist and devotional writer best remembered for gathering poetry, prose, and scripture into books meant to steady readers in everyday life. Her most enduring collection, Daily Strength for Daily Needs, became widely known for its warm, practical spirit.
1 Audiobook
Daily Strength for Daily Needs
by Mary Wilder Tileston
About the author
Born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1843, Mary Wilder Tileston was an American author, editor, and anthologist. She was born Mary Wilder Foote and came from a literary New England family; her father, Caleb Foote, was connected with the Salem Gazette.
She is best known for Daily Strength for Daily Needs (1884), a collection of brief readings in prose and verse paired with scripture for daily use. The book found a large readership, and she went on to compile or write many other volumes, including poetry collections and inspirational anthologies such as Joy and Strength for the Pilgrim’s Day and Quiet Hours.
Tileston’s work had a gift for selection rather than display: she brought together lines of faith, reflection, and encouragement in a way that made them easy to return to again and again. She died in 1934, but her books still give a clear sense of the calm, sustaining reading she wanted to place in people’s hands.