Who's who in Emily Dickinson's life

(still under construction!)

In reading about Dickinson you will run across many people from her life.  Here are some of those people and what role they played.

Edward Dickinson  & Emily Norcross, parents
    
painted by Otis A.Bullard 1840

Their three children Austin, Emily and Lavinia

Painted by Otis A. Bullard 1840

1852
Lavinia Norcross Dickinson, sister
Nicknamed "Vinnie" she had a wonderful sense of humor and was Dickinson's closest friend.  Vinnie took care of Emily, keeping the world outside unless she wanted to see it.  She took care of the domestic duties in the house so that Dickinson could create.

  1850       
William Austin Dickinson, brother  (1829-1895) Her brother was perhaps the most important person in Dickinson's life.   They shared a special bond.  He was the only other person beside Higginson to whom she declared her desire to be a poet. Austin was Lawyer, graduated from Harvard Law.  Their father built the Evergreens next door to the Homestead for Austin and his wife Susan to live in. An affair began with Mable Loomis Todd  in 1882 and lasted until his death. There is not a record of Dickinson's reaction to the affair.  However Todd was a visitor to the Homestead on many occasions.

1856
Susan Huntington Gilbert Dickinson (1830-1913) A graduate of Utica Female Academy, she taught Mathematics before marrying Dickinson's brother Austin in 1856.  Emily sent more correspondence to Susan, who she referred to as Sue and Susie, than any other person.  Dickinson valued her opinion and only for Sue would she alter a poem. (link to page on Susan's own writings)

1885
Mable Loomis Todd (1856-1932)

Rev. Charles Wadsworth (1814-1882) A Presbyterian Minister Dickinson referred to as "My closest earthly friend" and "My Shepard from 'little girl' hood".  They met when Dickinson visited Washington in 1855. He visited her at the Homestead in 1860.  Their lengthy correspondence is missing.  Mark Twain attended many of Wadsworth's sermons.  He said of the Reverend's humor,  "Dr. Wadsworth  never fails to to preach an able sermon; but every now and then, with an admirable assumption of not being aware of it, he will get off a firstrate joke and then frown severely at anyone who is surprised into smiling at it". Dickinson references Wadsworth in poems 322, 374, 431, 1576, 1072, and1576.

Otis Phillips Lord (1812-1884) A longtime friend of Edward Dickinson, (they were leaders of the Whig Party) he was in love with his eldest daughter.  Although he was 18 years older than Emily, and graduated from Amherst College when she was 2 years old.   There is speculation that their correspondence began before his wife, of 34 years, died  in 1877. He was the only known recipient of her love letters although only 15 still exist.  How close they came to marriage is not known.  Lord made a gift to Dickinson of two Shakespeare collections. He died 2 years before Dickinson.  According to Higginson, Lavinia put two heliotropes in Emily's coffin for her "to take to Judge Lord" .

Col. Thomas Wentworth Higginson (no photo-yet!)

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