Bessie Bradford's Prize — Joanna H. Mathews

Joanna Hooe/Hone Mathews (1849-1901) was born in New York where she attended and graduated from Madame Reichard's School. She and her sister Julia Mathews aka Alice Gray wrote children's books. Her first book, Guy Hamilton: A Story of Our Civil War, was published in 1866. Her best-known writings were the Bessie Books. Like her father, Joanna Mathews was also remembered for her benevolence. Her works include: Bessie at the Sea-Side (1867), Bessie in the City (1868), Bessie and Her Friends (1868), Bessie Among the Mountains (1869), Bessie at School (1869), Bessie on Her Travels (1870), Bell Power's Locket (1871), Dora's Motto (1871), Kitty's Robins (1872), Nellie's Housekeeping (1872), Toutou and Pussy (1872), Kitty's Visit to Grandmamma (1873), Rudie's Goat (1873), Eleanor's Visit (1875), Mabel Walton's Experiment (1875), Roslie's Pet (1875), Elsie's Santa Claus (1876), Blackberry Jam (1878), Edith Murray (1878), Breakfast for Two (1879), Uncle Rutherford's Nieces: A Story for Girls (1888), Bessie Bradford's Prize (1890), Maggie Bradford's Fair (1892) and Frankie Bradford's Bear (1893).