Eliza Scidmore: The Trailblazing Journalist Behind Washington's Cherry Trees

by Diana P. Parsell

The first-ever biography of an American journalist and travel writer who brought the world alive for readers a century ago through her intrepid journeys to little-known places. Eliza Scidmore was a "Forrest Gump" of her day who bore witness to many important events and rubbed elbows with famous people, from John Muir and Alexander Graham Bell to U.S presidents and Japanese leaders.

Scidmore's pioneering writings on Alaska in the 1880s helped spark the birth of its cruise industry. She educated readers about Japan and other places in the Far East at a time of expanding U.S. interests across the Pacific. At the early National Geographic, she made a lasting mark as the first woman to serve on its board and to publish photographs in the magazine. Around the same time, she played an activist role in the burgeoning U.S. conservation movement. Her published work includes books on Alaska, Japan, Java, China, and India, and a novel based on her reporting on POW camps during the Russo-Japanese War.

In her most tangible legacy, Scidmore was the earliest champion of planting Japanese cherry trees in Washington's newly created Potomac Park. Despite resistance from powerful men, she finally prevailed--after almost thirty years--by teaming up with First Lady Helen Taft.

Deeply researched and briskly written, this groundbreaking biography draws heavily on Scidmore's own writings to follow major events of a half-century as seen through the eyes of a remarkable woman who was far ahead of her time.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

448 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2023

Reviews

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book about a very interesting woman!

[Pat Lewers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely historical novel

I was raised inWashington, DC, I love the history of the Capitol of the US.

the early history of completing the Washington momument and the beautiful

mall were told with great interest and detail. I loved the story.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! This book dives into a wood, known story about Eliza Scidmore, who was a journalist and instrumental, and bringing the beloved cherry blossoms to Washington DC. As someone who lives in this area, it is hard to imagine spring, and Washington without a visit to the cherry blossoms. I loved getting a detailed look at how they got there. Eliza was a fascinating person outside of the cherry blossom story. In many ways, she was ahead of her time!

[Dianne Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book about a very productive and exceptional journalist in the late 1800s, early 1900s. She fought significant discrimination and loved that she reacted when she learned about pay differential. Her unique legacy is her major role in acquiring the cherry trees that surround the Tidal Basin in DC, but that occupies only a portion of the book and her life.

[Andrea Eschen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eliza Scidmore’s fascinating and eventful career has been brought to light. Finally. Diana P. Parsell writes about this remarkable woman―a journalist, travel writer, adventurer, and cultural ambassador― in a lively, inspiring, and compelling way. Based on extensive research, Parsell describes Scidmore’s exploits in the United States, Japan, India, China, Alaska, Sri Lanka, and other exotic places so that the reader experiences vicariously the arduous ocean voyages, train, and sled trips with this accomplished and determined woman. Her story is remarkable in many ways, not the least of which is her ability and grit to overcome cultural, social, and gender barriers to accomplish as much as she did.

Parsell writes about Scidmore’s life in a bigger historical and social context of the Gilded Age. It’s not just a biography of the journalist, though that in and of itself would be intriguing. Readers get to experience global exploration, new inventions, and the country’s changing politics and norms through Scidmore’s experiences.

Parsell portrays well the difficulties Scidmore faced as a writer. As intrepid and unique a journalist as Scidmore was, she still had to deal with rejections from magazines and editors, getting passed over for jobs, editors’ re-writes of her essays, and gaping discrepancies in her pay compared to her male counterparts. She had to convince her publishers of the merits of her stories. Now, of course, the value of her writing is obvious.

It’s hard to put down Scidmore’s exciting tale and series of firsts and accomplishments. Parsell’s evocative style takes the reader sailing through the book on a high adventure nestled into a significant time in the history of the United States.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an engaging and even entertaining biography of a remarkable and brillant woman in the early 1920s. Eliza Scidmore was more than a trailblazing journalist, she brought China, Indonesia, Japan and Alaska into the view of Americans who at that time may never have even heard of those countries/ regions. Her intellectual ability and curiosity, as well as her drive, made her stand out in an era where women were often little more than society wives.
She pioneered the idea of bringing ornamental cherry trees to Washington DC, to attempt to re-crete the strolling parks in Tokyo, where throngs of all social statuses , mingled to enjoy the brief spectacle of beuatiful cherry blossoms. She was ultimately sucessful, thanks to major help by Helen (Nellie) Taft, the First Lady who agreed with Scidmore's vision.
I found the writing to be excellent, which is often not the case in biographies. Woould certainly read something else by this author.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only finished it because my husband bought it for me and I felt guilty.

Author took an interesting story and made it as dull as tombs! No one needs to know the endless minutiae of a subject’s life.

Bring history to life—don’t bludgeon it to a stupor.

[Melanie Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much . Especially after a recent visit to Washington DC. I loved all the surrounding historic detail in the book and learning about the unique character of Eliza Skidmore.

[Blythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting that this person has not been more written about - not so much for cherry trees as her writing career.