Susan Coolidge

Susan Coolidge (1835–1905) was the pen name of American writer Sarah Chauncey Woolsey. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she became best known for her popular children’s books, especially the Katy series, which began with *What Katy Did* (1872). The novels follow the spirited Katy Carr and her family, blending domestic realism with moral and emotional growth. Woolsey also wrote other fiction and verse for young readers and contributed to periodicals. Her work was widely read in the late nineteenth century and helped shape the tradition of American girls’ literature through warm characterization, humor, and an emphasis on resilience and kindness.