Congratulations to Katharine Lee Bates from Wellesley

Happy birthday to Katharine Lee Bates (born August 12, 1859; died March 28, 1929). Bates was a graduate of Wellesley High School, class of 1874, and is the namesake of Bates Elementary School. She is widely known as the author of the patriotic song Beautiful America. The prolific author published non-fiction, fiction and poetry in newspapers and magazines, including New York Times and the Atlantic Monthly Magazine. Bates taught at the Dana Hall School before taking a position as professor of English literature at Wellesley College.

Katharine Lee Bates

Born August 12, 1859 in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

Died March 28, 1929 in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

The year 2024 will mark the 160th anniversary of Bates’ death.

Her ashes are buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Falmouth.

Bates Elementary School, 116 Elmwood Rd., was named after her.

Class of 1874, Wellesley High School.

Wellesley College, class of 1880.

Taught at Dana Hall School until 1886.

Author of the poem that inspired the patriotic song Beautiful America in 1893.

In 1907 he moved to 70 Curve St., Wellesley (“The Scarab”).

Was professor of English literature at Wellesley College until 1925.

The Shining Sea Bikeway was named in her honor. The 11-mile paved, level bike path stretches on Cape Cod from Bates’ birthplace of Falmouth to Woods Hole. A 3.3-mile section of the bike path was dedicated on November 9, 1975. An extension was completed and opened to the public in the summer of 2009.

Was honored on July 4, 2018 with a series of “O Beautiful” stamps issued by the USPS. Each of the 20 stamps features a photograph illustrating one of five phrases from the song’s famous first verse: “Spacious Skies,” “Waves of Grain,” “Mountain Majesties,” “The Fruited Plain,” and “Sea to Shining Sea.”