Eugenia Dunlap Potts

Eugenia Dunlap Potts (1840–1912) was an American poet and writer, born in Lancaster, Garrard County, Kentucky, and died in the same state. Her life was closely tied to the local culture of the American South. Three of her works are held in this collection: the story collection Idle Hour Stories, the narrative poem The Song of Lancaster, Kentucky, and Historic Papers on the Causes of the Civil War. These works show her writing across local narrative poetry, short stories, and historical essays, with themes centering on Kentucky's local scenery, remembered figures, and discussion of the causes of the Civil War, displaying the lyric tone and historical concern common to nineteenth-century American women's writing. From 1892 she edited the Kentucky Illustrated, and the state of Kentucky later erected a marker at the site of her former home in honor of her literary contributions. Given the limited public information, details of her life and a full assessment of her work await further study.