Susanna Anthony
Susanna Anthony was a notable figure of the early 18th century, recognized for her spiritual writings and reflections on her conversion from Quakerism to the Congregational Church. Born to Quaker parents in a well-to-do household, Anthony likely benefited from the era's progressive educational practices for girls, which fostered her command of language. Her religious transformation occurred during a personal crisis at a young age, influenced by the death of her sister and a pivotal reading of a spiritual text. Following her conversion, she devoted her life to her faith, residing with her parents in Newport, Rhode Island, until their deaths, and she remained unmarried.
Although Anthony did not publish her works during her lifetime, her diary and letters were posthumously published in 1796 by Samuel Hopkins, aiming to share her revivalist spiritual narrative and inspire others. Her writings stand out for their unique blend of Puritan and Quaker influences, showcasing her individual voice within the conversion narrative genre. Unlike typical diary literature of her time, Anthony's writing is characterized by a formal style, indicating a deliberate effort to craft her literary expression. Today, the only surviving portion of her diary can be found at the Connecticut Historical Society, serving as a testament to her spiritual journey and literary contributions.
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Susanna Anthony
Nonfiction Writer
- Born: October 25, 1726
- Birthplace: Newport, Rhode Island
- Died: July 23, 1791
- Place of death: Rhode Island
Biography
Susanna Anthony was the youngest child born to Quaker parents during the early 1700’s. While little is known about Anthony’s educational background, her command of language suggest that she was benefited from the Quakers’ liberal policy of educating girls. Also, as a member of a well-to-do household, she may have had more free time to engage in learning.
The writings of Susanna Anthony serve as a record of her spiritual life after her religious conversion from the Quaker belief system to the Congregational Church. Her conversion came as a result of a spiritual crisis during her thirteenth or fourteenth year. As a result of her sister’s death, Anthony lost confidence in the “religious experience.” However, after reading the book Advice to Sinners under Conviction to Prevent Their Miscarrying in Conversion by Samuel Corbin in 1741, which had belonged to her deceased sister, Anthony converted to the Congregationalist Church. Devoted to her religion, Anthony lived with her parents in Newport, Rhode Island, until their deaths. She never married. Anthony herself died in 1791, after catching pneumonia from a family member she was caring for.
Anthony was not published while she was alive, but left behind a diary and numerous letters. In 1796, excerpts from her religious writings and memoirs were published posthumously by Samuel Hopkins, a minister. Hopkins’s purpose in publishing Anthony’s diary and letters was to disseminate revivalist narrative of spiritual conversion to inspire others. However, Anthony’s narrative is different from other conversion narratives of the time period because she combines the conventions of the Puritan and Quaker conversion narratives, which shows the independence and individuality of Anthony’s voice in this particular genre.
It may also be noted that Anthony’s writing is different from the average style of diary literature because it is more formal than the usual diary literature which is typically discursive, loosely organized and conversational. Anthony took time to develop her style, using figures of speech effectively to convey tone and purpose. This sort of effort indicates that her diary was not just a record of her spiritual life, but a literary record as well. The only extant part of Anthony’s diary can be found at the Connecticut Historical Society.