Lula Greene Richards
Encyclopedia
Louisa Lula Greene Richards (April 8, 1849 – September 9, 1944) was a poet and was the first female periodical editor in Utah Territory
, USA. Richards's work was published under a variety of names, including Louisa L. Greene, Louise L. Green, Lula Green, and Lula G. Richards.
Lousia Lula Greene was born in Kanesville, Iowa
. Lula's parents were Evan M. Greene (a son of John P. Greene
) and Susan Kent. Both of her grandmothers were sisters to LDS Church president Brigham Young
. In 1852, her family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
. In Utah, Greene grew up in Salt Lake City, Provo
, Grantsville
and Smithfield
.
In 1869, Greene was briefly the editor of the Smithfield Sunday School Gazette, a small periodical issued to individuals who attended the LDS Church Sunday School
in Smithfield. In early 1870, Greene enrolled at the University of Deseret in Salt Lake City. However, in 1871, she was required to return to Smithfield due to a family illness. Lacking the money she needed for the trip, Greene submitted a poem to the Salt Lake Daily Herald and asked editor Edward L. Sloan
to buy it for $7.50, which was the amount of money she needed to return home. Sloan agreed, and her poem "Tired Out" was published on the front page of the Daily Herald.
Sloan contacted Greene in Smithfield and asked her if she would be interested in being the editor of a newspaper for Latter-day Saint women. Greene conferred with general Relief Society
president Eliza R. Snow, and after receiving her blessing and the approval of Brigham Young
, Greene accepted Sloan's offer. In 1872, Women's Exponent began publication in Salt Lake City with Greene as editor. Greene edited the periodical until she was succeeded in 1877 by Emmeline B. Wells
, who edited until Women's Exponent was discontinued in 1915.
In 1873, Greene married Levi W. Richards, the son of Levi Richards
and a nephew of church leader Willard Richards
. Levi served in many positions in the LDS Church including as a member of the general board of the Sunday School
and as a patriarch. Lula and Levi had seven children, four of whom lived to adulthood. One of their children was the artist Lee Greene Richards
.
In 1883, Louisa Richards became an editor with the Juvenile Instructor
, an LDS periodical edited by George Q. Cannon
. She wrote and edited the column "Our Little Folks" until 1907. Richards wrote poetry, and her poems appeared in Woman’s Exponent, Improvement Era
, Young Woman's Journal
, Children’s Friend, Relief Society Magazine
, and Juvenile Instructor. Her book of poetry, Branches That Run Over the Wall, was published in 1904.
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
, USA. Richards's work was published under a variety of names, including Louisa L. Greene, Louise L. Green, Lula Green, and Lula G. Richards.
Lousia Lula Greene was born in Kanesville, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Lula's parents were Evan M. Greene (a son of John P. Greene
John P. Greene
John Portineus Greene was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement.Greene was born in Herkimer, New York. He was a Methodist minister at Mendon, New York. He was friends with Heber C. Kimball and they claimed to witness "signs in the heavens" on September 22, 1827...
) and Susan Kent. Both of her grandmothers were sisters to LDS Church president Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
. In 1852, her family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
. In Utah, Greene grew up in Salt Lake City, Provo
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
, Grantsville
Grantsville, Utah
Grantsville is the second most populous city in Tooele County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Salt Lake City, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,015 at the 2000 census. The city has grown slowly and steadily throughout most of its existence, but rapid increases in...
and Smithfield
Smithfield, Utah
Smithfield is a city in Cache County, Utah, United States. The population was 9,495 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Logan, Utah-Idaho Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the second largest city in the area after the county seat, Logan...
.
In 1869, Greene was briefly the editor of the Smithfield Sunday School Gazette, a small periodical issued to individuals who attended the LDS Church Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
in Smithfield. In early 1870, Greene enrolled at the University of Deseret in Salt Lake City. However, in 1871, she was required to return to Smithfield due to a family illness. Lacking the money she needed for the trip, Greene submitted a poem to the Salt Lake Daily Herald and asked editor Edward L. Sloan
Edward L. Sloan
Edward Lennox Sloan was a Latter-day Saint editor and publisher. He also was the arranger of the text of the hymn "For the Strength of the Hills" into the version currently contained in the hymnal of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .Sloan was born in Bangor, Ireland and was...
to buy it for $7.50, which was the amount of money she needed to return home. Sloan agreed, and her poem "Tired Out" was published on the front page of the Daily Herald.
Sloan contacted Greene in Smithfield and asked her if she would be interested in being the editor of a newspaper for Latter-day Saint women. Greene conferred with general Relief Society
Relief Society
The Relief Society is a philanthropic and educational women's organization and an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . It was founded in 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, USA and has approximately 6 million members in over 170 countries and territories...
president Eliza R. Snow, and after receiving her blessing and the approval of Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, Greene accepted Sloan's offer. In 1872, Women's Exponent began publication in Salt Lake City with Greene as editor. Greene edited the periodical until she was succeeded in 1877 by Emmeline B. Wells
Emmeline B. Wells
Emmeline Blanche Woodward Harris Whitney Wells was an American journalist, editor, poet, women's rights advocate and diarist...
, who edited until Women's Exponent was discontinued in 1915.
In 1873, Greene married Levi W. Richards, the son of Levi Richards
Levi Richards
Levi Richards was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a member of the Council of Fifty and Anointed Quorum and served as a physician for movement founder Joseph Smith, Jr. and others during the years the...
and a nephew of church leader Willard Richards
Willard Richards
Willard Richards was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and served as Second Counselor in the First Presidency to church president Brigham Young in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death.Willard Richards was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to...
. Levi served in many positions in the LDS Church including as a member of the general board of the Sunday School
Sunday School (LDS Church)
Sunday School is an official auxiliary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . All members of the church and any interested nonmembers, age 12 and older, are encouraged to participate in Sunday School.-Purpose:...
and as a patriarch. Lula and Levi had seven children, four of whom lived to adulthood. One of their children was the artist Lee Greene Richards
Lee Greene Richards
Lee Greene Richards is a famous Utah portrait artist. Many of his works can be found at the City and County Building in Salt Lake City, Utah.- Biography :...
.
In 1883, Louisa Richards became an editor with the Juvenile Instructor
Juvenile Instructor
The Juvenile Instructor was an official periodical of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1901 and 1930. It was first published in 1866 as a private publication...
, an LDS periodical edited by George Q. Cannon
George Q. Cannon
George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...
. She wrote and edited the column "Our Little Folks" until 1907. Richards wrote poetry, and her poems appeared in Woman’s Exponent, Improvement Era
Improvement Era
The Improvement Era was an official magazine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1897 and 1970....
, Young Woman's Journal
Young Woman's Journal
Young Woman's Journal was an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between 1897 and 1929. It was an official periodical of the Young Ladies' Mutual Improvement Association, then the LDS Church's organization for adolescent females.Young Woman's Journal was founded...
, Children’s Friend, Relief Society Magazine
Relief Society Magazine
Relief Society Magazine was the official publication of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1915 to 1970. It succeeded the earlier Woman's Exponent, which was begun in 1872. The magazine was an important publishing outlet for Utah women, and was run by women...
, and Juvenile Instructor. Her book of poetry, Branches That Run Over the Wall, was published in 1904.