Florence Coates

COATES, Florence Van Leer Earle Nicholson.  b. Philadelphia, 1 July 1850; d. 6 April 1927.  A descendant of prominent abolitionists, Coates grew up in wealthy and influential Philadelphia society.  She studied at private schools in the United States and in Europe before marrying William Nicholson on 28 September, 1872.  Her daughter, Alice, was born a year later; William died after only five years of marriage.  In 1879, Florence married Edward Hornor Coates.  In addition to her work as a writer, she served as president of the Browning Society in Philadelphia and was elected Poet Laureate of Pennsylvania by the Federation of Women’s Clubs in that state.  Coates composed hundreds of poems,...