Webster, Jean (1876-1916) Also known as: Webster, Alice Jane Chandler

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Jane Addams to Lillian D. Wald, August 11, 1911

Graham Taylor to Jane Addams, September 8, 1912

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Birth Date

1876-07-24

Death Date

1916-06-11

Birthplace

Fredonia, NY

Biographical Text

Jean Webster, born Alice Jane Chandler Webster, was Mark Twain's great-niece. She studied at the Fredonia Normal School, later attending the Lady Jane Grey School. In 1897 she was accepted into Vassar College and became involved with the College Settlement House. During her junior year, she studied in Europe, visiting France, the UK, and Italy, writing articles on her time abroad for the Poughkeepsie Sunday Courier. She also wrote a short story based on her experiences, "Villa Gianini," which was later expanded into a novel, The Wheat Princess. After graduating in 1901, Webster began writing her novel, When Patty Went to College, which was published in 1903. She spent the rest of her career writing short stories and novels, her most well-known being Daddy-Long-Legs and Dear Enemy.

Webster married Glenn Ford McKinney in 1915. Webster died in 1916 due to complications of childbirth.