Esther Baker Steele

Esther Baker Steele (, Baker; August 4, 1835 – November 23, 1911) was an American educator, author, editor, and philanthropist of the long nineteenth century. She aided her husband, Dr. J. Dorman Steele in his fourteen-week Barnes' Brief Histories series of books, these publications being, Brief History of the United States, 1871; France, 1875; Centenary History of United States, 1875; Ancient Peoples, 1881; Mediaeval and Modern Peoples, 1883; General History, 1883; Greece, with Selected Readings, 1884; Rome, with Selected Readings, 1885; and Revised United States, 1885. She did most of the work upon Brief History of the United States, which proved a phenomenal success. After her husband's death, she prepared new editions of these joint works and also of her husband's science books (Hygienic Physiology, enlarged edition, 1888; and General History, 1893).

Early life and education Esther Adele Baker was born in Lysander, New York, August 4, 1835. When young, she lived with her family in a parsonage.

From 1846 to 1852, Steele studied in Mexico Academy, Mexico, New York and Falley Seminary, Fulton, New York, where her talent as a writer attracted the attention of all her teachers. However, no published literary efforts mark that period of her life. During those years her imagination and aspirations found expression in music.

Philanthropist

In 1899, Steele made a gift to the city of Elmira of the "Steele Memorial Library", and in the same year was erected the "Esther Baker Steele Hall of Science", on the Syracuse University campus. She also maintained the "Joel Dorman Steele Professorship of Physics", and Syracuse University.

Personal life

Steele was widely traveled. In 1872 she made her first European tour with Dr. Steele. In April 1873, they sailed again returning in 1874. In 1877, a third, and in 1884, a fourth tour was taken. In 1893, Steele visited Egypt, Palestine, Greece, and Italy. In 1903, she spent three months in Europe. She made two trips to Mexico, five to California, and spent many winters in Florida. In later years, she was in Washington, D.C. during its political and social seasons, and was well known there as elsewhere to a circle of influential people of political and diplomatic importance. Steele made her home in Elmira, New York, at "The Gables".

She was in declining health for little more than a year before her death at her home, November 23, 1911. Burial was at Woodlawn cemetery. A foster son, Allen D. Steele, survived her.

Selected works Barnes series with J. Dorman Steele Brief History of the United States, 1871 France, 1875 Centenary History of United States, 1875 Ancient Peoples, 1881 Mediaeval and Modern Peoples, 1883 General History, 1883 Greece, with Selected Readings, 1884 Rome, with Selected Readings, 1885 Revised United States, 1885

Revised editions of J. Dorman Steele's works Hygienic Physiology, enlarged edition, 1888 General History, 1893