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Bio

(1820-1915) Poet, hymn writer. Blinded at six weeks of age, Fanny Crosby entered New York Institute for the Blind at age 15, and afterward taught English and history. During the course of her life she would write at least 9,000 hymns. She also wrote A Wreath of Colombia’s Flowers (1858), a collection of secular stories and poems in the same tone as her hymns, as well as Memories of Eighty Years (1906). She was born in Putnam County.

Full Name

Frances (Fanny) J. Crosby

Locations

Queens

Author's Timeline

1820

BIRTH

Frances Jane Crosby was born in the town of Southeast in Putnam County, New York, on March 24, 1820.

1835

OTHER

In 1835 Ms. Crosby entered the New York Institute for the Blind at age 15, and from 1847 to 1858 she taught English and history there.

1844

LITWORK

A Blind Girl and Other Poems
Wiley & Putnam

Collection of poetry.

1853

LITWORK

Monterey and Other Poems
R. Craighead.

Collection of poetry.

1858

LITWORK

A Wreath of Colombia's Flowers
H. Dayton

Collection of poetry and four short stories.

1858

RESIDENCE

Following their wedding, Ms. Crosby and her husband, Alexander Van Alstyne, Jr., lived in Maspeth, New York.

1897

LITWORK

Bells at Evening and Other Verses
New York, NY: Biglow & Main.

Collection of poetry.

1906

LITWORK

Memories Of Eighty Years
Boston, MA: James H. Earle & Company.

Autobiography.

1906

LITWORK

This is My Story, This Is My Song

978-1-898787-41-9
Autobiography.

1915

DEATH

Fanny Crosby died in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on February 12, 1915.

1915

INTERMENT

Fanny Crosby was interred in Mountain Grove Cemetery and Mausoleum in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut.

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