A Leading Lady in Journalism | Sarah Joshepha Hale

Sarah Joespha Hale: The Lead Editor Ahead of Her Time

 

Auguste Edouart

National Portrait Gallery

Sarah got her start in Newport, New Jersey. She was born to productive parents, Captain Gordon Buell was a an officer in the American Revolution. After marrying her mother, Martha Buell he became a tavern keeper. His work ethic rubbed off on both of his kids as they were both successful academically. With their oldest son Horatio, being a graduate of Dartmouth College, they wanted Sarah to have the same opportunities academically. So Horatio and Martha tutored Sarah, where she developed a passion for writing. At the age of twenty five Sarah married David Hale who was an attorney in Newport. He came from a family with many connections as his family helped found Dartmouth College. The couple would go on to have five children. Sarah passed down her parents wisdom and beliefs of gender equality and hard work down to her children. Despite the cultural norms of the time being that women were extensions of their husbands, Sarah was so much more. Boston National Historical Park cited her as someone whose "authority and her ideas broke down barriers for middle class women."

Her husband passed away in 1822. Despite spending her time being a wife and mother raising five children, she became a skillful writer. Shortly after David's passing she published her first official work; a collection of poems titled The Genius of Oblivion. 

While her most well known series of poems is titled, Poems of our Children featured the now timeless classic Mary Had a Little Lamb. 

She was fortunate enough to have the financial support from David's Masonic Lodge. 

She continued to perfect her craft and in 1827 she published her first abolitionist novel, Northwood: Life North and South. This book is what set her apart from other writers of her time. Challenging the social and cultural differences of the north and south and bringing awareness to the racism the country was facing at the time. An excerpt from the novel reads,

 "But to return to our Thanksgiving festival. When it shall be observed, on the same day, throughout all the states and territories, it will be a grand spectacle of moral power and human happiness, such as the world has never yet witnessed." 

HathiTrust

Ladies' Magazine v.1 (1828)

She spread the messages of unity and equality throughout her works. This caught the attention of Rev. John Lauris Blake of Boston. So mesmerized by her work, he asked her to move to Boston and become the head editor of his new magazine titled, Ladies' Magazine. This was a magazine that was the first of its kind. Something made by and for women.

"The courts of justice are exclusively under the control of the men, and it is presumed no gentleman, however low he may bow to the opinion of the ladies when expressed in society, will concede that women; have any share in the enacting of the laws, or any influence on their execution."

Hale used Ladies' Magazine to bring awareness to socio-cultural editorials and advice columns, as well as design and fashion critiques, and recipes and housekeeping advice.

She was the very first female editor, but she preferred the name "editress". Hale became the national arbiter of good taste, manners, family life, and "domestic science." She was someone who all women then and now can look up to.

Courtesy of the Quincy Historical Society.

Bunker Hill Quarry, painting by V. Campbell, based on a drawing by Draper Hill.

Her platform extended beyond writing novels. As she engaged in local civic work. In 1833 she established the Seaman's Aid Society in Boston's North End. A program that gave a voice and support to the wives of children of men who were away working at sea. Seaman's Aid Society offered job training, which allowed women to become financially independent and keep their children housed and clothed. This was not the Seaman's Aid Society's only claim to fame. In 1840, Sarah ran a sewing circle which raised 30,000 dollars. The money was put towards finishing the Bunker Hill Monument. 

The creation of this blog post featured the use of A.I platform Claude to compile a list of academic sources.

Me in 500 Words

Drea Caiola in 500 Words 

Tiago Campos

Drea with drag queens from Boston’s local scene. 

From the Du Dynasty Christmas show.

I have always has a passion for creation.

From writing, to creating characters in video games.

Any way to bring a story to life.

This passion really came to fruition when I purchased The Sims 4 in January of 2015. I started small, created myself and my friends. From there I began to imagine every possibly the character creator had to offer.

Then I began to share these creations online. Amassing around 13k followers on the social media platform Amino. 

Although this seemed like a childhood hobby I grew out of. When it came time to decide what I really wanted to do with my life. 

I realized I had this passion still buried beneath the surface. 

Really any interest I have ever had has had to do with creation. Not in the typical sense of drawing, or painting. (I would not consider myself an artist). But before Sims, it was Barbie's. my twin sister and I would come up with the craziest scenarios and act them out.

Greensboro Pride

Drea with drag performer Yvie Oddly at 

Greensboro Pride 2025

Now one of my passions is Drag. The art of creating a persona and becoming someone else is just fascinating. I have had the privilege to watch and meet many performers over these last three years.

Through this hobby I have met some amazing people on and offline. It also has strengthened the bond with my best friend Tiago as he now has someone to share his own love of Drag with.

I have also been exposed to various cultures outside of my own through Drag. I appreciate the artform all over the world and support international performers as well.

I have always been someone that is able to make friends with people from all over the world.

Even back in my Amino days I talked to girls from the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, even someone from Singapore. 

Nowadays I still have friends from all over Europe. But now I hope to meet them in person one day now that I am an adult.

Being from Framingham Massachusetts I have been surrounded by diversity.

People would describe the public school's in my city as trilingual. 

One third English, one third Spanish, and one third Portuguese. 

A Drag Queen Christmas

Drea with drag performer, and host of 

the evening, Nina West.

This introduction is all about my interests and hobbies because they define me.

Maybe a little too much according to some people.

When I was twenty I learned that I am on the Autism spectrum. Honestly it wasn't a shock to me, but it felt great to finally have it written down. I finally felt like everything I had been feeling my entire life was finally validated. 

I tended to get stuck on one topic from the time I was little.

I fixate on things.

And I still do.

I tend to ramble when I find something I am passionate about.

And when I find something, 

I go all in. 

I will attach myself to something and it will be my entire personality for months to come. 

Until it fizzles out.

But that is what makes me, me.