Neltje Blanchan De Graff Doubleday (October 23, 1865 – February 21, 1918) was a United States scientific historian and nature writer who wrote books on gardening and birds under the pen name Neltje Blanchan.[1] Her work is known for its synthesis of scientific interest with poetic phrasing.
She was born in Chicago to Liverius De Graff, a proprietor of a men's clothing store, and Alice Fair. She was educated at St. John's in New York City and Misses' Masters School (see Estherwood) in Dobbs Ferry, New York.[2]
She married Frank Nelson Doubleday in Plainsfield, New Jersey on June 9, 1886. They had two sons and one daughter: Felix Doty (adopted), Nelson (1889–1949) and Dorothy. They had homes in both New York City and Oyster Bay. She entertained regularly and participated in philanthropic work for the American Red Cross.[1]
In 1917 she visited the Philippines and China on special assignment as a commissioner for the Red Cross. She died suddenly in Canton, China on February 21, 1918 at age 52.[1]
Some of her papers (1914–1918) are in the Frank N. Doubleday and Nelson Doubleday Collection at the Princeton University Library.
There is a Neltje Blanchan Literary Award given by the Wyoming Arts Council, which is given annually to "a writer whose work, in any genre, is inspired by nature." The award was created by Blanchan's grand daughter, who served on the board of the Council from 1985 to 1988 and later gifted to the University of Wyoming much of her estate (including her land, buildings, art collections) to become the UW Neltje Center for the Visual and Literary Arts.[3]
Nellie's grandson Nelson Doubleday Jr. purchased the New York Mets in 1986.