"It always has seemed to me that each human being, before going out into the silence, should leave behind him, not the story of this own life, but of the time in which he lived- as he saw it - its creed, its purpose, its queer habits, and the work which it did or left undone in the world." ( Bits of Gossip) These are the first words written by Rebecca Harding Davis in her autobiography. Davis was an American author and journalist and was a pioneer of American Realism and one of the most influential writers in the 19th century.
Rebecca Harding Davis was born June 24, 1831, in Washington, Pennsylvania. She was the eldest daughter of Richard W. Harding who managed a large insurance company and also oversaw the financial affairs of his town. Rebecca lived in Pennsylvania for only a short time before moving to Florence, Alabama, where she spent the remainder of her childhood. She later was taken back to Pennsylvania for schooling where she eventually met her husband, Lemuel Clarke Davis.
Davis did not attend school but was taught by her mother and tutors. She was an avid reader, and authors such as Harriet Beecher Stowe and Maria Cummins sparked her interest in literature. Without a formal education, Davis took a bold step and entered Washington Female Seminary in 1845. .
During the 19th century there was little equality between men and women, but the addition of all female seminaries would become part of the foundation of the women's equality movement. .
Pennsylvania was taking a step toward education for women with their vast amount of institutes, such as example the Pennsylvania Female College in Harrisburg and the West Chester Female Seminary. However, the Washington Female Seminary was one of the best known of this type of institute in Pennsylvania (Wickersham). Davis graduated in 1848 as the valedictorian of her class. .
After graduation Davis landed a job at Wheeling Intelligencer in 1849 where she sharpened her writing skills.