Call for Papers for an Edited Collection on Elizabeth (“Lizzie”) Champney

            The editor of a proposed edited collection seeks essays on late 19th-century/early 20th-century American author Elizabeth (“Lizzie”) Champney, who wrote primarily for young readers.  A member of Vassar College’s second graduating class, Champney is perhaps best remembered for her novel series Three Vassar Girls, detailing young college women traveling abroad, but her career as an author produced, in her own words, “over fifty odd books and over a hundred magazine articles and short stories” which have received little to no critical attention.  The editor hopes this collection will bring together a group of insightful and well-researched essays that encapsulate various facets of Champney’s oeuvre and bring new light to her works.  The volume will include a preface about the Champneys’ lasting legacy in Deerfield, MA, written by the curator and president of the Historic Deerfield museum, and a chapter written by the Curatorial Fellow for Historic Deerfield on Lizzie’s artist husband, James Wells Champney, who provided illustrations for many of his wife’s books.  Although several specific chapters of this collection are already spoken for, the editor seeks around eight additional chapters on Elizabeth Champney’s writings, with special interest in these areas:

--An investigation of any of Champney’s early works such as All Around a Palette (1878), Bourbon Lillies (1878), or Rosemary and Rue (1881).

--A discussion of art and/or artist characters in Champney’s works.

--A close look at any or all of Champney’s Great-Grandmother’s Girls series.

--A discussion of Champney’s animal stories (plus how they connect to other 19th-century animal stories for children), including her popular tale Howling Wolf and His Trick Pony (1888) as well as Paddy O’Leary and His Learned Pig (1895) and/or Pierre and His Poodle (1897).

--An examination of one or more titles from Champney’s Romance series such as Romance of the Feudal Chateau (1900) or Romance of the French Abbeys (1905), etc.

--A close look at travel in Champney’s works or a chapter specifically focusing on her travel essays published in Harpersor The Century.

--An examination of any of Champney’s short stories.

--Champney’s publications for children in St. Nicholas or elsewhere (since her first publication was a dialect poem in this magazine).

--A close focus on one of Champney’s mid-career works such as Six Boys (1893) or The Bubbling Teapot:  A Wonder Story (1888).

--An exploration of any aspect of Champney’s Witch Winnie series, or an examination of an aspect of one particular book in the series.

--A fresh take on the Vassar Girls series (different from scholarship already published), or a close examination of an aspect of one of the books in the series.

--Any other aspect of Champney’s works, including her use of dialect in her stories, her portrayal of black or indigenous American characters, her historical positioning of women, etc.

The editor seeks abstracts of around 300 words and a short bio by January 15, 2025.  From those chosen for inclusion in the volume, the editor will solicit rough drafts of approximately 15-25 pages by August 2025.  Given the specific nature of the volume, queries are always welcome.  Please send abstracts and queries to Joyce Kelley, Professor of English:  jkelley8@aum.edu