School Address: 116 Elmwood Rd Wellesley MA 2481
School District: Wellesley
County: Norfolk County
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Katharine Lee Bates was an accomplished American author, poet, and educator, best known for writing the lyrics to the patriotic song “America the Beautiful.” Born on August 12, 1859, in Falmouth, Massachusetts, Bates had a significant impact on American literature and education. She attended Wellesley College, where she later became a faculty member, teaching English literature. Her experiences traveling across the United States in 1893 inspired her to write “America the Beautiful,” which reflects the country’s landscapes and ideals. Katharine Lee Bates lived at 116 Elmwood Road in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where she was deeply involved with the college and the community. Bates’s legacy extends beyond her famous song; she wrote numerous volumes of poetry, travel books, and children’s literature. Her contribution to literature and education, as well as her advocacy for social causes such as women’s rights and world peace, left a lasting imprint on American culture. Bates passed away on March 28, 1929, but her work continues to be celebrated for its lyrical beauty and patriotic spirit.