Muriel Marjorie Boos was born in 1923 in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, the daughter of Richard and Jennie (Nicholas) Boos . In 1934 the family moved to Manasquan, New Jersey. She graduated from the Junior College of Physical Therapy in New Haven (now part of the University of Connecticut) in 1942. In 1944 she married Harold N. Hanna; they had four children. The Hannas moved to Rhode Island in 1947. MMH (as she signed her poems) began writing poetry while riding the train between Connecticut and New Jersey, and stopped for many years while busy with children and other activities. She started writing again in 1975 and was active in the Rhode Island State Poetry Society. Muriel Hanna was the granddaughter of Emma Doan (Evans) Nicholas.
Emma Doan Evans was born in Evansville, Pennsylvania in 1877. She married William W. Nicholas in 1893 or 1894, when they were both sixteen years old. They had five children, including Jennie May (Nicholas) Boos. The Nicholases lived in several towns in northern New Jersey until they moved to a farm in Jerseyville. Emma Nicholas was active in the local Grange--several of her poems are about the farmer's organization. In the mid-1930s they lost their farm. They later lived in Brooklyn, New York, and Newark, New Jersey. Emma Nicholas died in Farmingdale, New Jersey in 1946. In addition to poetry, Emma Nicholas wrote jingles for fun and in hopes of winning prize money.
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Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Muriel Marjorie Boos Hanna papers, Ms. 90.11, Brown University Library.
These papers consist primarily of poetry by Muriel Marjorie (Boos) Hanna dating from 1976 to 1989, including a printed collection, drafts, notes and a draft of a compilation of poems by Hanna and others. The papers also include poems (manuscripts and a typescript compilation) and a few jingles by Muriel Hanna's grandmother Emma Doan (Evans) Nicholas, as well as clippings and publications collected by Emma Nicholas, and autobiographical and biographical notes by Hanna included here. Muriel Hanna's poetry covers a number of topics, including nature, family and personal experiences. Emma Nicholas' poems, all undated, describe her life on the farm and provide information about the Grange, and gender roles in rural life in the early twentieth century.
The collection is arranged in three series:
Muriel Marjorie (Boos) Hanna donated her papters to Brown University in February 1990.
Brown University Library catalog record for this collection:
Manuscript and typescript poetry are, roughly, in reverse chronological order.
Biographical information regarding Emma Evans Nicholas.
(Rhode Island Poetry Society, 1983), inscribed by Muriel Marjorie Hanna.
Loose typescript gathered by Muriel Hanna and Paula Durrant. Many by Muriel Marjorie Hanna, some by Emma Evans Nicholas.
Roughly in reverse chronological order.
Roughly in chronological order.
Roughly in reverse chronological order.
Compiled by Muriel Marjorie Hanna for Emma Evans Nicholas's daughter, Jennie May (Nicholas) Boos.
Regarding Family members, 1922,1930.
Poems, obituaries, stories, some regarding the Grange.
Pamphlets, broadside regarding spirituality, diet, railroad, etc., also Grange application.