Sarah Josepha Hale: The Woman Who Campaigned for Thanksgiving

Long before Thanksgiving was celebrated across the entire United States on the same day, local communities observed their own days of harvest and gratitude. In the early nineteenth century, there was no permanent national holiday. A state governor might declare a day of thanks in October, while another chose a date in December, and some states celebrated no holiday at all. The woman who worked tirelessly to change this was Sarah Josepha Hale.

Born in New Hampshire in 1788, Sarah Josepha Hale grew up with a deep passion for learning. At a time when higher education was largely closed to women, she educated herself through books and the guidance of her family. After the untimely death of her husband left her to raise five young children alone, Hale turned to writing to support her household. She published poetry, including the famous children's poem "Mary's Lamb" (widely known today as "Mary Had a Little Lamb"), as well as novels and essays.

In 1837, Hale became the editor of Godey's Lady's Book, which grew to become one of the most widely read and influential magazines in America. As an editor, Hale held an exceptional platform. She used her position to promote important causes, including expanding educational opportunities for women, historic preservation, and American literature. However, one of her most persistent personal missions was the establishment of a unified national Thanksgiving.

Hale believed that a shared holiday would bring families together and strengthen bonds across the nation. To build public interest, she published articles, stories, and traditional holiday recipes in her magazine year after year. She encouraged readers to celebrate gratitude and community. Beyond her printed pages, Hale launched an extraordinary letter-writing campaign. For decades, she wrote personal letters to state governors, military leaders, and members of Congress, urging them to support a single national date: the last Thursday in November.

Her efforts required immense patience. Hale wrote directly to five different United States presidents—Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan, and Abraham Lincoln. While earlier leaders set aside her requests, Hale refused to give up her campaign.

In the autumn of 1863, the United States was deeply divided by the Civil War. Hale wrote a compelling letter to President Abraham Lincoln, appealing to him to unite the country in a day of peace and gratitude despite the ongoing conflict. Lincoln saw great merit in the idea. On October 3, 1863, he issued a presidential proclamation calling on all Americans to observe the last Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving.

Sarah Josepha Hale did not invent Thanksgiving, which had deep roots in centuries of regional harvest celebrations and historical gatherings. Nevertheless, her determination and decades of advocacy transformed scattered local customs into an enduring national tradition. Her life stands as an inspiring example of how dedicated writing and civic engagement can shape a nation's culture.