Robert Means Lawrence

Born in Boston in 1847, Robert Means Lawrence trained as a doctor at Harvard Medical School and built a career in medicine before becoming known as a writer as well. He served at the Boston Dispensary and was also active in civic and historical life in Massachusetts.

His books ranged widely, which is part of what makes him interesting to modern readers. He wrote about folklore and superstition in works such as The Magic of the Horse-Shoe and Primitive Psycho-Therapy and Quackery, while also publishing local and family history, including studies of Boston landmarks and New England figures.

That combination of physician, historian, and curious collector of old customs gives his writing a distinctive character. Even when he was tackling unusual beliefs or half-forgotten traditions, he approached them with the careful eye of a researcher and the enthusiasm of someone who genuinely enjoyed the stories people passed down.