Lavinia (sometimes spelled, "Lavina") Stella Tyler was born in
St. Johnsbury, Vermont, February 4, 1833. Her parents were James P. and Philura (Crocker) Tyler. In
King's Chapel Burying Ground,
Boston, is the grave of an ancestor marked by a stone from a foreign quarry, dating back to the
Colonial period and bearing the
coat of arms of the English Tyler family. She was educated in public and private schools and the State Seminary,
Derby, Vermont. After having conducted departments for women and children, and become favorably known as a writer of stories, at the beginning of 1869, she was made associate editor of
The Watchman (Boston), in especial charge of its family page. The affiliation was re-established after an interval of service on the
Journal of Education. A season in
California and Mexico tested her ability as a correspondent, and she was employed in that capacity in the
Philadelphia Centennial Exposition (1876) and in the
Paris Exposition Universelle (1878), her published letters winning general admiration. She produced a number of serials, one for a leading
London journal. Goodwin's volumes included, ''Little Folks' Own
(collection of stories and verse, which had a large sale); The Little Helper
(biography); The mysterious Miner
; Quicksands
; The Light of Home
; and Wings, Legs and Voices''. Her books were published in the U.S. and England. Besides contributing much to various popular publications for young people, she gained recognition in art and general literature. As a writer of poetry she was represented in many anthologies. Goodwin was a charter member of the New England Woman's Press Association. Lavinia Stella Goodwin died in 1911. ==Selected works==