Mixed media on cradled wood. 14” x 18” x 1.5”deep. Ready to hang.

I found a sweet little book of poetry entitled “Songs for Courage” by Grace Noll Crowell.

This copy (copyright 1938) was given to someone named Anne Sloan Dixon on February 28, 1945 … with love Jean Beaty. The first house I bought in Old Louisville had been loved on and lived in by a lady with the last name Beaty. So of course I had to have this book!

I found this copy in an old antique store before the pandemic and have used quite a few of the pages for my work.

Grace Noll Crowell was born October 31, 1877 and passed away March 31, 1969. She had her first child in 1906 but became very sick and immobile, so she started writing poetry. She wanted to help others who were suffering from debilitating illness.

In 1935 she was poet laureate of Texas for the next three years. She was a national honor poet in 1938 and was one of 10 outstanding women in the US by American Woman publication.

She wrote 36 books and over 5000 poems, and continue to write until she was 86 years old. She died at the age of 91 and is buried in the Dallas Texas cemetery.