Minnetta Theodora Taylor

Minnetta Theodora Taylor (March 2, 1860 - July 26, 1911) was an American author and poet of the long nineteenth century. A polyglot, Taylor spoke 45 languages. She was also a clubwoman and suffragist. Shortly after Taylor's death in 1911, the Woman Suffrage Party post-humously awarded her the prize for the best poem, "Ballot Song of American Women", to be set to music and to become the National Suffrage Anthem. Opie Read called her "The Little Sister of Poets".

Biography Minnetta Theodora Taylor was born in Princeton, Missouri, March 2, 1860. She had at least two siblings, brothers, John and Howard.

When she entered Asbury University (now, DePauw University), age thirteen, her German was through the course, and in mathematics, she had finished the sophomore year. During her college course, she received first honor in modern languages, first Latin prize, and highest general grades. She graduated with A. B. degree; A. M. French, 1883–84; she also attended 1898–99.

For a time, she taught Romance languages in DePauw, but she abandoned this work to enter the lecture field. In 1905, she was delivering lectures in New York City and Boston on literary and sociological subjects.

Taylor spoke 45 languages, and was joint author of six Spanish-English textbooks, her associate being Mr. Biragua, of New York City. She contributed to Spanish-American periodicals and general literature. Taylor also wrote critical papers and essays.

Taylor was widely known in club circles, being either an active or honorary member of thirty clubs, several of them being in foreign countries. In 1903, she was president both of the Western Association of Writers and the Indiana Federation of Women's Clubs. Previously, she was president of the DePauw Society of Alumni. Governor Durbin appointed her to represent Indiana in the American Forest Congress meeting in Washington D.C.

Taylor died at her home in Greencastle, Indiana, July 26, 1911.