author
Phebe Westcott Humphreys
d. 1939
A Philadelphia writer with a wide range of interests, she wrote children's stories, travel pieces, and influential books on gardens and outdoor design. Her work blends a practical eye with a real love of animals, plants, and beautiful places.
1 Audiobook
A Natural History for Young People: Our Animal Friends in Their Native Homes including mammals, birds and fishes
by Phebe Westcott Humphreys
About the author
Born in 1864, Phebe Westcott Humphreys was an American journalist, horticulturist, photographer, and author. She was based in Philadelphia and wrote across several genres, including children's books, travel writing, and books about landscape and garden design.
She is especially remembered for The Practical Book of Garden Architecture (1914), a work that helped document and shape ideas about home gardens and outdoor spaces. She also wrote The Automobile Tourist, reflecting early motoring travel from Philadelphia, and created children's books such as Our Animal Friends in Their Native Homes.
Humphreys died on June 17, 1939. Her career stands out for its unusual mix of reporting, visual observation, and hands-on interest in the natural and built environment, which gave her writing both warmth and usefulness.