The following is courtesy Katharine Smith, a "collateral descendent" of Katharine Pyle (she was my great-great aunt). Katharine Pyle never married or had any children of her own, but she had a number of nieces and nephews.

Katharine Pyle was one of Delaware's most prolific authors, having had a part in the creation of more than 50 children's books, yet little information has been published about her life. For anyone who would dare the rarified air of children's book collecting, her works would be a challenging and rewarding target.

Pyle was born in Wilmington November 22, 1863, the youngest of four children. Her parents, William Pyle and Margaret Churchman Painter Pyle, were of old Wilmington Quaker families. The home atmosphe...