Mary Ellen Chase

Mary Ellen Chase (1887–1973) was an American novelist, educator, and literary scholar closely associated with Maine. Born in Blue Hill, Maine, she drew on New England settings and traditions in both her fiction and nonfiction. Chase wrote novels including *Mary Peters* (1934) and *Windswept* (1941), and she also published essays and literary studies. She taught English for many years at Smith College, where she became a prominent professor and lecturer. Across her career, Chase was recognized for clear, accessible prose and for championing the cultural and literary heritage of the region that shaped her work.