Draft:Hannah Bowen Allen

Hannah Bowen Allen
Portrait of Mrs. Frederick Allen (née Hannah Bowen Whipple) by Thomas Badger
Born	Hannah Bowen Whipple (1787-11-28)November 28, 1787 Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA
Died	April 14, 1848(1848-04-14) (aged 60) Gardiner, Maine, USA
Resting place	Oak Grove Cemetery, Gardiner, Kennebec County, Maine, USA
Occupation(s)	Author, Scientist
Notable work	Farmer Housten and the Speculator: A New England Tale (1839) * A Poetical Geognosy (1841)
Spouse	Frederick Allen (m. 1812; d. 1865)
Children	Augustus Oliver Allen, Frederick Allen, Eleanor Gay, Margaret Ann Elton, Hannah Frances Allen, Charles Edward Allen, John J. Allen
Parent(s)	Oliver Whipple, Abigail (Gardiner) Whipple

Hannah Bowen Allen (born Hannah Bowen Whipple, November 28, 1787 – April 14, 1848) was an American author and scientist during the American Renaissance era. She is known for her books Farmer Housten and the Speculator: A New England Tale (1839) and A Poetical Geognosy (1841), and for her extensive fossil collection preserved in the Cleveland Cabinet of Mineralogy.

Early Life and Family Background

Hannah Bowen Allen was born in Gardiner, Kennebec, Maine, to Oliver Whipple and Abigail Whipple (née Gardiner). Her grandfather, Dr. Silvester Gardiner, was a renowned physician who founded Gardiner, Maine, in 1760. Abigail, known as "Nabby," was a Loyalist during the American Revolution and married Oliver Whipple in 1774. Oliver Whipple, a distinguished Harvard graduate, was a lawyer for Silvester Gardiner and a state representative for Hampton from 1796 to 1800. Despite their achievements, Hannah's parents experienced marital difficulties, leading to a divorce and subsequent remarriage in 1797. Oliver Whipple eventually passed away in his office in the early 1800s.

Marriage and Family

In 1812, Hannah Bowen Allen married Frederick Allen, a prominent lawyer. Together, they had seven children: Augustus Oliver Allen, Frederick Allen, Eleanor Gay, Margaret Ann Elton, Hannah Frances Allen, Charles Edward Allen, and John J. Allen.

Career and Works

Hannah Bowen Allen is credited with two works: Farmer Houston and the Speculator: A New England Tale and A Poetical Geognosy. The former is a fiction novel set in early New England, exploring themes of morality, economic hardship, and community dynamics. The latter is a nonfiction scientific work on geology and mineralogy. Despite the genre differences, Allen's writing maintains a matter-of-fact tone throughout both works.

Allen was an avid collector of minerals, fossils, and shells, obtaining many from her house in Gardiner, Maine, as well as from a clay bank owned by the father of a close colleague. Her main interests consisted of geology, mineralogy, and conchology. She corresponded with prominent scientists and attracted their visits. Sir Charles Lyell noted her fossil collection, which included a walrus tooth and buffalo teeth. J.W. Hanson and H.K. Morrell praised her scientific achievements and the attention she received from leading scientists such as Agassiz, Lyell, Buckland, and Silliman.

Allen's daughters, Margaret Allen Elton and Hannah F. Allen, donated her geological collection to Bowdoin College. The collection, comprising over a thousand specimens, occupies an entire alcove in the Cleveland Cabinet of Mineralogy. An inscription honors her interest in science and the family's connection to the college's history.

Writing Style

Allen's word choice is deliberate and evocative, often drawing from the vernacular of early 19th-century New England. She uses language that is accessible yet rich in connotation, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the historical context of the tale. Her diction effectively captures the starkness of rural life, with frequent references to the natural world that reflect the characters' deep connection to their environment.

"A Poetical Geognosy" reflects Allen's scientific interests, presenting geological and mineralogical subjects with clarity and precision. This nonfiction work demonstrates her ability to communicate complex scientific information effectively.

"Farmer Houston and the Speculator" offers a compelling narrative of early New England life, marked by clarity and attention to detail. Allen's straightforward narrative approach and use of regional dialects enhance the story's realism. Her deliberate and evocative word choice captures the starkness of rural life and underscores themes of labor, perseverance, economic struggle, morality, and community support.

Allen's use of dialogue is particularly noteworthy. The conversations between characters are rendered with a keen ear for the regional dialect and idioms, which lends an additional layer of realism to the story. The dialogues are not only tools for character development but also serve to illustrate the cultural and social trends of the time.

Legacy

Hannah Bowen Allen's life is remembered for her literary and scientific contributions. Her works provide an authentic depiction of early New England life and showcase her intellectual breadth. Her legacy continues through her geological collection at Bowdoin College and her enduring relevance as an author and scientist.