Katherine Lee Bates (August 12, 1859-March 28, 1929) was an American poet and educator. She was professor of English literature at Wellesley College, 1891-1925. In 1892, after seeing the inspiring view from atop Pike's Peak in Colorado, she penned the patriotic song America the Beautiful. This song became so popular that in 1920 it almost became the U.S. National Anthem:
<O Beautiful for Spacious Skies,
For Amber Waves of Grain,
For Purple Mountain Majesties
Above the Fruited Plain!
America! America!
God Shed His Grace on Thee
And Crowned Thy Good with Brotherhood
From Sea to Shining Sea!
O Beautiful for Pilgrims Feet,
Whose Stern Impassioned Stress
A Thoroughfare for Freedom Beat
Across the Wilderness!
America! America!
God Mend Thy Every Flaw,
Confirm Thy Soul in Self-Control
Thy Liberty in Law!
O Beautiful for Heros Proved
In Liberating Strife,
Who More Than Self Their Country Loved,
And Mercy More Than Life!
America! America!
May God Thy Gold Refine
Till All Success Be Nobleness
And Every Gain Divine!
O Beautiful for Patriots Dream
That Sees Beyond the Years
Thine Alabaster Cities Gleam
Undimmed by Human Tears!
America! America!
God Shed His Grace On Thee
And Crown Thy Good
With Brotherhood
From Sea to Shining Sea!.> 1859KB001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1859KB001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Katherine Lee Bates, 1892, verses in the song she composed titled, America the Beautiful. Michael Drury, Why She Wrote America's Favorite Song (NY: Woman's Day, January 1978, reprinted: Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest, The Reader's Digest Association, Inc., July 1993). Robert Flood, The Rebirth of America (Philadelphia: Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation, 1986), p. 13. Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1987), p. 96.