Celebrating Trailblazer Margaret Fuller (1810-1850)

Margaret Fuller, 1846

Happy Birthday to Margaret Fuller, born on May 23, 1810.

Our collective gifts to Margaret are the organizations, projects, books, articles, and events in her name and spirit.

Now we can add a publicly displayed, life-size bronze statue to this list as well.

Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton state in their book, History of Woman Suffrage, that Margaret Fuller, “possessed more influence on the thought of American women than any woman previous to her time.”

This remarkable influence is her everlasting gift to all of us.

Unveiling of a Sculpture

On May 23, 2026, her 216th birthday, a sculpture of Margaret Fuller was unveiled in the Garden Retreat of the Concord Free Public Library in Concord, Massachusetts.

The bronze statue was commissioned by Ronald Lee Fleming, and sculpted by American artist Penelope Jencks in 1985. Fleming donated the sculpture to the public library in Concord, a meaningful locale since Margaret Fuller often visited fellow Transcendentalists and friends Ralph Waldo Emerson, Bronson Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, and others there.

Now patrons strolling through the garden will encounter the life-size statue of this 19th- century writer and women’s rights advocate. It’s apropos that the sculpture of Fuller now resides at a library, and that she is holding two books in her hand, since she was known as the best-read woman in New England in her lifetime.

Thanks to all who contributed to this meaningful installment and event, increasing Margaret Fuller’s visibility!

The Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House

Since 1902, the Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House has been operating at 71 Cherry Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the house that was Margaret’s childhood home.

Although primarily known as a women’s rights activist, Margaret Fuller tirelessly advocated for social reform of all kinds. While living in New York City writing for the New York Tribune, Margaret visited prisons, insane asylums and alms houses and was very vocal in her call that these institutions be improved and social ills be addressed. She called for ALL people to be treated humanely and fairly and believed ours was a country that could and should do better.

The Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, which has gone through many transformations during its 124 years of existence, has consistently provided opportunities and supported efforts to make life better for those who need a boost, from immigrants to the indigent, while fostering literacy and community.

According to their website:

“Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House is a cornerstone of community support in Cambridge, offering diverse services that include educational programs, food assistance, and other community engagement activities. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and vibrant community by empowering individuals and families to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.”

When in Cambridge, I make a mini-pilgrimage to Margaret’s childhood home on Cherry St. Her house, instead of a museum-type preservation with roped-off rooms, is a living, breathing entity. True, the big yellow house looks a little tired, but it still beats with the heart of Margaret who said, If you have knowledge, let others light their candle in it.

71 Cherry Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts

I always sense her spirit there and know her candle continues to light that of others through the vital programming offered to those who need it most.

The Fuller Project

Margaret Fuller, among other things, was a journalist. She moved from Boston/Cambridge to New York City to write for Horace Greeley’s New-York Tribune. While in Europe she continued her columns, eventually covering the Roman Revolution of 1848-1849, one of Italy’s early fights for unification and liberation.

As such, she was the first female foreign news correspondent and foreign war correspondent.

The Fuller Project, launched in 2015 and named in her honor “is the global newsroom dedicated to groundbreaking reporting that catalyzes positive change for women and gender-diverse people.”

Now called , the project has garnered numerous awards over its decade in existence and has positioned itself to make a difference in the lives of women around the world. They share this about their namesake:

“In 1848, Fuller broke barriers as the first woman war correspondent. Her literary work, which sought to dismantle gender norms and advance women as full citizens in society, is considered to be one of the first major feminist works in the United States. Fuller’s trailblazing career, incisive writing, and progressive activism undoubtedly laid the groundwork for feminist movements to come.”

Some Books on Margaret Fuller

Fuller: Collected Writings, complied and edited by Margaret Fuller biographer Megan Marshall and scholar Noelle A. Baker, was published by the Library of America in 2025.

There are numerous biographies on Margaret Fuller. An all-time favorite is Megan Marshall’s Pulitzer Prize winning Margaret Fuller: A New American Life, from 2014.

Released in 2024, Finding Margaret Fuller written by historical novelist Allison Pataki, shines additional light on the life of Margaret.

In my book, The Light Above: A Memoir with Margaret Fuller, I write of her birthday in May:

“Oh, that time of year when you can leave the windows open a bit, let the young spring air waft in and hear the birds in a springtime frenzy. My birthday being the twenty-third of May made for a bright occasion most years.”