Library Receives Grant to Study Louisa May Alcott

"Touched to the heart, Mrs. March could only stretch out her arms, as if to gather children and grandchildren to herself, and say, with face and voice full of motherly love, gratitude, and humility — 'Oh, my girls, however long you may live, I never can wish you a greater happiness than this!' "

And so ends what is perhaps one of the most beloved American novels of all time, a novel that Louisa May Alcott based, in part, on her own life.

And now, this life, partly described in the pages of Little Women, will be studied and appreciated by readers in the Rochester area.

The is one of 30 libraries across the country chosen to receive a grant that will explore the life and writings of Alcott this fall.

Sponsored by the American Library Association Public Programs Office with the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the library has partnered with and to present the series.

“We’re very pleased that our library was chosen to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for programs focused on Louisa May Alcott,” said Library Director Christine Hage. “We have plans for a number of programs that will explore Louisa May Alcott’s life, work, and times.

"Besides her best known children’s novel, Alcott authored many other stories for adult audiences. Our library is excited to explore these little-known works, which provide a unique perspective on American history. We look forward to sharing the documentary and biography with our community.”

The series is based on the documentary film Louisa May Alcott: The Woman Behind Little Women, co-produced by Nancy Porter Productions, Inc. and Thirteen/WNET New York’s American Masters, and a biography of the same name, written by Harriet Reisen.

Stay tuned to Rochester Patch for details on the upcoming programs.